Marais Audomarois

The Marais Audomarois (French pronunciation: [maʁɛ odɔmaʁwa]) is a wetland biosphere reserve in the north of France.

The main natural habitats are reedbeds, tall herbs, peaty woods, meadows, ditches and rivers.

There are also a number of endangered species in the region, including cowbane (Cicuta virosa), river water-dropwort (Oenanthe fluviatilis) and water soldier (Stratiotes aloides).

The reserve has a permanent population of 69 000 residents, as well as one of France’s two remaining wetland floating gardens, the other being the hortillonnages [fr] in Amiens.

Since the seventeenth century, market gardening activities have promoted the development and creation of these landscapes, which are still preserved today.