Gelgit düzlüǧü sedimantasyonuna güncel bir örnek: Mont-Saint-Michel Körfezi (Kuzeybati Fransa)

The Mont-Saint-Michel (MSM) Bay covers an area of 500 km² to the northwest of France and is characterized by exceptional tidal amplitudes (up to 15 m during spring tides). Three geomorphic units together with their sedimentary facies and environments can be described from 250 km² tidal flat exposed daily. The estuary system is composed of tidal channels, organic rich schorre and mud-sand alternations of the tidal flat. The oyster and mussel accumulations and worm reefs situated to the west and center of the bay often create barrier islands. The dune system to the northeast is developed by strong northwesterly winds and contains coastal dunes and tide influenced megaripples. Available data and observations indicate that all three systems prograde not only because of natural processes but also because of human interventions such as dam, road and irrigation channel constructions. Therefore, a full understanding of the mechanisms that control the development of the geomorphic units and their sedimentary facies is not only important from a geological point of view but also from environmental and ecological perspectives.