What does the future hold for the French coastline? Find the answer in maps, with a simulation of rising sea levels in France between the Mediterranean, the Atlantic Ocean, the English Channel and the North Sea, according to several scenarios.
Rising water levels in France?
Between the retreat of the coastline and the natural mobility of the coastline, the assessment of sea levels is a complex science to grasp, with one unanimous observation: for the last 30 years, the waters have been rising all over the world and particularly in France.
With 20,000 kilometres of coastline, including 5,500 in mainland France, France is the world’s second largest maritime area. Between mainland France and the French Overseas Territories, it is directly affected by rising sea levels, with almost 3,000 kilometres of coastline artificially developed.
Some figures on the French coastline :
- There are 975 coastal communities in France (including 885 in mainland France)
- 5,500 kilometres of sides in mainland France and 14,500 in the French overseas territories
- 25% of the coastline is currently affected by rising sea levels
- 300 kilometres of coastline are already retreating by between 25 centimetres and 2 metres a year
- 700,000 hectares and 1.4 million people are already at risk from extreme water levels
Coastal erosion
Accelerated by rising sea levels and climate change, coastal erosion is one of the natural phenomena that continue to impact the French coastline, with regional variations.
Coastal erosion in France means 20% of the natural coastline retreating and around 30 km² of land disappearing over a period of 50 years, with both advances and retreats between the seas and oceans of France.
- Map of the national coastal erosion indicator:
Simulation in France by region
Here are just a few maps to help you simulate rising sea levels in France by coastal region: Mediterranean, Atlantic, Channel, North Sea and Overseas.
For all the pages accessible below, there are two water level simulation maps for each region concerned, one from Climate Central and the other from BRGM.
What’s more, the default setting for the maps is a one-metre rise in sea level, which you can change as you wish.
For more details on the origin of the maps, practical features and scientific sources, go to the dedicated page.
Mediterranean coast
Simulation of rising water levels around the Mediterranean, between Roussillon, Languedoc and Côte d’Azur:
South Atlantic Ocean (France)
The Nouvelle-Aquitaine region, from the Basque Country to the Pays-de-la-Loire :
North Atlantic Ocean (France)
From the coast of Brittany to the Pays-de-la-Loire:
English Channel, North Sea
From the north of Brittany to the Belgian border:
Overseas
Around the world between the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans and the Caribbean Sea:
Travel+
- Interactive map of rising sea levels
- Map of global warming by region
- Forest weather and fire risk in France (French)
- Going back in time with photos and maps, IGN (French)
- Vigicrues, risks and flooding (French)
- Environment, pages and articles
- national coastal erosion indicator, CEREMA (French)
- French coastline, Wikipedia (French)
- Key figures for the coastline, Ministry (French)
- Canals and waterways in France and towards Europe
- Watersheds in France and Europe (French)
- Flooding in France (French)
- Along the Rhône river