Sharjah24 – AFP: Two popular coves in the "Calanques" area near Marseille, among southern France's main attractions, saw visitor numbers capped on Sunday for the first time to protect their fragile ecosystem.
The coast between Marseille and Cassis features France's best-known Calanques, age-old rock formations featuring steep cliffs, offering spectacular views, rare marine fauna and protected swimming.
Hugely popular with locals and visitors alike, they are often accessible only by boat or hiking trails.
Because the limestone formations have little or no topsoil, plants have had to take root in cracks between the rocks, making their hold tenuous and vulnerable to disturbances.
"The Sugiton and Pierres Tombees calanques have fallen victim to very serious soil erosion because of overcrowding," said the Calanques National Park which manages the landscape of narrow vertical cliffs, inlets and beaches.
"This phenomenon is threatening the landscapes that we love so much, and bio-diversity," it said.
Access to Sugiton and Pierres Tombees was limited to 400 people each on Sunday, compared to the usual summer daily visitor numbers of 2,500.
Online bookings are free of charge, but anyone found at the beaches without a pass on capped days can be fined 68 euros ($72).
However, many people -- including several foreigners -- had been turned away at the several checkpoints along the access path to the cove because they didn't have the required QR code.
Some visitors, hoping for a cooling swim on a hot day, were unhappy about the new rule.
But others appreciated the new-found calmness at the beach.
The new rule is to be applied again next Sunday and then daily between July 10 and August 21, the national park said.
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