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Something not to be missed
The Mascaret
THE MASCARET
The Mascaret (tidal bore) is a natural phenomenon seen in estuaries. It is mainly caused by the resistance of two currents of water moving in opposite directions. At this point, the incoming tide rushing upstream is higher than the river, the ebb tide. this is the precise moment when the current changes direction. The wave (the Mascaret) entering the estuary is in fact the first returning wave of the flood tide.
It thus rises until its strength becomes equal to the ebb tide current.At certain places where the river is wide the Mascaret can be observed to disappear into the river, then re-appear upstream.This is due to pressure drop (ratio of flow to free space).
The Mascaret can therefore be seen precisely at low tide. The best place on the Dordogne to see this is on the left bank, at the port of Saint Pardon in the municipality of Vayres.
