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Le Frioul and the islands

The guardians of the Calanques

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Le Frioul © Parc national des Calanques
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Riou vu du belvédère du sémaphore de Callelongue © Parc national des Calanques
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Puffins avec l’île de Planier en arrière-plan © J.P. Durand
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L'île Verte © C. Bellanger – Parc national des Calanques
The calanques around MarseilleCassis, and La Ciotat are surrounded by a string of islands, just off the coast, which seem to guard the coastline.

Off Marseille, the limestone silhouette of the Frioul archipelago includes four islands: Pomègues, Ratonneau, If, and Tiboulen.

Further south lies the Riou archipelago where there is no human life. As a result, it is a preserved refuge for biodiversity.

To the west, much further from the coast, Planier and its lighthouse rise from the horizon. The surrounding sea bed is scattered with wrecks.

Finally, on the eastern boundary of the national park, lies Ile Verte facing La Ciotat calanques. It is the only wooded island in the Bouches-du-Rhône area.