The Camargue is a French natural region located on the Mediterranean Sea, in the departments of Gard and Bouches-du-Rhône, and formed by the Rhône delta. Although the real urban center of the Camargue is Arles1, Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer is generally recognized as the capital of the Camargue due to its relatively central position on the coast. The Camargue is a 150,000-hectare paralic wetland that is home to many animal and plant species. It has been classified as a regional natural park since 1970 and recognized as a biosphere reserve by UNESCO since 1977. Since the 19th century, it has been the subject of major hydraulic developments.
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