Port-Cros National Park, Marine national park in Hyères, France.
Port-Cros National Park covers 1,700 hectares of land and 2,900 hectares of sea in the Hyères archipelago, including most of Porquerolles, Port-Cros, Bagaud, Gabinière and Rascas. Its marine zone extends 600 metres from the coast. The park's islands rise steeply from the water, with rocky shorelines and coves where sailboats anchor.
Port-Cros National Park was created on 14 December 1963, after the island of Port-Cros was bequeathed to the state, making it France's second national park after Vanoise. It was the first national park in Europe to combine land and sea protection. On 4 May 2012 the park was extended to most of Porquerolles.
The park protects botanical collections featuring wild plants and traditional Mediterranean fruit varieties that have grown in the region for generations.
Bathing is allowed only at three beaches in the park, and smoking or bringing dogs can lead to a heavy fine. The marine core extends 600 metres from the coast, while the land core covers Port-Cros, Bagaud, the Gabinière islet and the Rascas rock. Bagaud and Gabinière are integral reserves where landing is forbidden.
The park's core also takes in the islets of Bagaud and Gabinière, which are integral reserves where landing is forbidden. Its staff have run the French side of the Pelagos agreement since 1999, a sanctuary for Mediterranean marine mammals shared with Italy and Monaco.
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