Beach vacation is perhaps one of the most popular types rest in the world. Many people prefer to relax in seaside towns to enjoy the warm sun and gentle sea. But how not to be mistaken in choosing such a place? In this matter, the quality mark of the beaches, the Blue Flag award, will help.

It is an award that is awarded annually to beaches and marinas (marinas) for meeting water quality and cleanliness standards for safe swimming. This status is a non-profit non-state award, which is managed by the Environmental Education Fund.

A bit of history. France is considered the birthplace of the Blue Flag beach quality mark. It was here that the awarding ceremony took place for the first time in 1985. And since 1987, they began to present it all over the world. Today, 48 countries are participating in the award, and every year the number of participants is growing steadily.

The awarding takes place on June 5 for countries located in the Northern Hemisphere and November 1 for countries located in Southern hemisphere... This year, more than 3,700 beaches and marinas in 48 countries have received this status. In 2012, Spain became the leader in the number of beaches on which this flag flaunts, with 539 beaches and 83 marinas, in the coming season this number reaches 550 beaches and 97 marinas.

Russia also boasts the presence of a "Blue Flag" on its beaches and marinas on the Black Sea coast - five in Yalta, five in Yevpatoria, one each in Ilyichevsk and Sevastopol. And also "Tsarskaya pier" in Sevastopol also received a quality mark. Also, another berth of the Terijoki yacht club in St. Petersburg received a quality mark.

What guarantees this status? The beach on which this flag is proudly flies guarantees holidaymakers:

• free entrance;
• weekly testing of water for purity;
• sand is periodically cleaned and debris is collected;
• the beach has its own rescue and surveillance service;
• if necessary, first aid can be provided directly on the beach;
• the presence of shower cabins;
• lack of motor transport;
• pets enjoy the private beach.

Today, the following countries can boast of this quality mark of beaches: Canada, Croatia, Bahamas, Bulgaria, Brazil, Denmark, Cyprus, Dominican Republic, England, Wales, France, Finland, Greece, Germany, Italy, Poland, Norway, Turkey, Sweden, Latvia, Lithuania, Montenegro, Morocco, Malta, Tunisia, Belgium and many others.

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In everything that concerns beach holiday, one can argue about tastes for a very long time: someone likes to bask on the sand, and someone sincerely loves pebbles, someone visits only the closed beaches of five-star hotels, and someone even goes to nudist ones. But there is one single criterion that is important for everyone - the purity of the water and the coast.

How to find a truly sustainable beach? Loyal assistants in this matter are international certificates. Since 1987, the "Blue Flag" has been the main marker of purity in this matter. Blue Flag on the Beach: What It Means The Blue Flag is a prestigious international award that confirms that a beach, harbor or marina meets the highest quality standards.

The initiative belongs to France and is managed by the non-profit non-governmental organization Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE). European beaches are annually certified before the start of the bathing season, the award is held on June 5. In total, 3.6 thousand beaches and 677 harbors in 45 countries boast Blue Flags in the world, including such popular tourist destinations as Cyprus, Tunisia, Israel, and others.

In 2018, only one beach in Russia was awarded the prestigious mark. It is located in the village of Yantarny in the Kaliningrad Region and has received the award for the third time in a row. Nevertheless, the beaches of Yalta have already been nominated, and last year the beach areas of Sochi joined the fight. Blue flag beaches have been certified for 27 points, including water quality, safety level, environmental management, ramps and wheelchair toilets, etc.

Other flags on the beach: to avoid confusion

Flags of other colors are used to indicate the degree of danger on the water. The International Safety Alert System is adopted in all countries of the world.

✔ Red color, as it is not difficult to guess, indicate a danger - swimming is prohibited for one reason or another. A double red flag signals an increased danger. These include not only sharks and all kinds of fauna, but also powerful ebb currents that can carry away quicksands and eddies into the open sea.

The Blue Flag is a certificate awarded annually to the best beaches and marinas around the world. The presence of such a flag means that the coastal areas meet certain environmental and safety criteria. In Russia, only the Yantarny beach in the Kaliningrad region managed to obtain such a certificate.

On the beach of the village of Yantarny, which has been awarded the international sign "Blue Flag". Photo: RIA Novosti / Igor Zarembo

Who evaluates the safety of beaches?

Beach safety is assessed by experts from the Federation of Environmental Education - FEE (Foundation for Environmental Education - FEE). The quality certificate in the form of a blue flag was first established by the French in 1985.

The Blue Flag is awarded to a beach for one swimming season in the current year. In a year, the coastal area must once again prove the high quality of the services provided.

The renewal time for the Blue Flag certificates in the Northern Hemisphere is annually in late May - early June.

What are the criteria for evaluating beaches?

The beaches are assessed on the basis of compliance with 32 criteria, which reflect 4 main aspects:

1. Environmental education and information

• The territory must display information about the "Blue Flag".
• Environmental education activities should be conducted with visitors to this beach.
• Bathing water quality information should be displayed.
• Information on the local ecosystem and environmental phenomena should be displayed.
• There should be a beach map with existing objects marked on it.
• Information about the rules of conduct and stay on the beach and surrounding areas in accordance with applicable laws.

2. Water quality

• The beach must fully comply with the requirements for the frequency of sampling for water quality.
• The beach must fully comply with the water quality standards for the analysis of the samples taken.
• No industrial and waste water discharges affecting the beach area.
• The beach must meet the Blue Flag requirements for the microbiological parameters of E. coli and intestinal enterococci / streptococci.
• The beach must meet the requirements of the "Blue Flag" in terms of physical and chemical parameters.

3. Environmental management

• Local beach managers or owners must have a beach management committee (administration).
• Local beach managers or owners are required to comply with all regulations for the construction and operation of the beach.
• The beach must be clean.
• Algae, vegetation or other natural debris should not remain on the beach.
• Waste bins / containers should be available on the beach in sufficient quantity and should be regularly serviced.
• The beach should have containers for separate collection of garbage for subsequent recycling.
• There must be a sufficient number of toilets on the beach.
• Toilets or restrooms must be kept clean.
• Toilets or lavatories must be equipped with a sewerage system.
• There should be no unauthorized dumping or dumping of waste on the beach.
• All buildings and beach equipment must be kept in good order.
• Coral reefs in the vicinity of the beach must be controlled.
• Parking Vehicle should not be carried out in the beach area.

4. Security and services

• Sufficient number of rescuers and rescue equipment should be available on the beach.
• Equipment for rendering the first medical care should be available on the beach.
• There should be contingency plans and plans to deal with the risk of environmental contamination.
• The administration should take measures to prevent and occurrence of conflicts and accidents with beach visitors.
• There should be security measures to protect beach visitors.
• There must be drinking water available on the beach.
• At least one of the Blue Flag beaches in each municipality must have wheelchairs and special equipment to accommodate people with disabilities.
• At least one of the Blue Flag beaches in each municipality should be able to accommodate wheelchair users and people with disabilities.

Thus, the beach, over which the blue flag flies, ensures that vacationers

• free access to the beach,
• the water is clean and tested weekly,
• the debris is collected and the sand is cleared,
• there are showers on the beach, a surveillance and rescue service,
• if necessary, emergency assistance can be provided right on the beach,
• there is no motor transport on the beach,
• there are no pets on the beach,
• there are conditions for the recreation of people with disabilities on the beach.

Amber and Massandra - that's where you need to go to relax on the beach. It is there, according to international experts of the Blue Flag award, that the best beach areas in Russia are located. The rest of the Russian beaches, it turns out, g *** o?
Looking at the rating and the number of world-standard beaches in other countries, it is striking that there are so few of them in Russia. Even on / in Ukraine there are as many as 10 such beaches (!!!).

By the way, according to the official data of the award, the beach in the village of Yantarny (Kaliningrad region) is generally the only one in Russia awarded this prestigious quality mark, because Massandra is considered Ukrainian in Europe (the Massandrovsky beach in Yalta received its first Blue Flag back in 2010, and in this he once again confirmed).

The three leaders of the world beach top: Spain (579 beaches), Greece (485 beaches) and Turkey (454 beaches). The top 10 also includes France (390), Italy (342), Portugal (320), Denmark (225), Croatia (99), Ireland (81) and England (68). In total, there are 43 countries in the top with 3662 beaches. Yacht marinas and boat stations are assessed separately - Russia is not yet on these lists. For comparison: in Ukraine, beaches with Blue flag 10 - in Kiev and Odessa.

Blue Flag is the highest quality standard for beaches. To raise it over the coastal zone, desire and clean water are not enough - infrastructure is needed. The international commission certifies the place according to 33 criteria, and the requirements are growing every year. The main ones are:
free access to the beach;
the water is clean and tested weekly;
garbage is collected and sand is cleaned at the end of the day;
lifeguards work on the beach;
emergency assistance is provided on the spot;
there are shower cabins;
motor vehicles do not run on the beach;
pets use a different beach.
In fact, Blue Flag is an ecological program based on respect and conservation of the surrounding ecosystem, natural phenomena and biological diversity.

As for the Massandra beach.
It was he who became the first owner of the Blue Flag in the "Russian-speaking" countries the former USSR”(A phrase from the Blue Flag release). In addition, it is considered the best equipped beach in Yalta and the entire South Coast for the disabled.
Length beach complex Massandrovsky 460 m. It is divided by concrete breakwaters into seven sectors: free access and VIP zones from 8 to 10 euros. The beach is equipped with several cafes and restaurants, a sports club, a playground, a swimming pool with running water, a shower and a toilet.
The useful area of ​​the beach has been expanded through the use of so-called "terraces" - special buildings located above the groins. Part of it is reserved for sunbathing areas, part for walking, some of them serve café visitors.

The beach is pebbly, but the water can be reached along specially equipped wooden paths. The entrance to the territory is free. Sun loungers, umbrellas and other equipment are available for rent at an additional cost. There are designated areas for smokers

By the way, Massandrovsky is not the only one in Crimea who raised the Blue Flag on the flagstaff. A similar award in 2013 and 2014 was received by the beach of the Aquamarine hotel in Sevastopol, but ... everything flows, everything changes, someone loses and someone gains, and flags are passed on to the best of the best.

Officially, the first in Russia the Blue Flag award in 2016 was received (and this was confirmed) by the coastal zone in the village of Yantarny, Kaliningrad Region - the sandy beach "Shakhta Anna".

Leads to him wooden bridge with viewing platforms... The length of the beach complex is about 500 m. The recreation area is supplied with electricity, running water, sewerage, changing cabins and toilets.

The beach is equipped with showers and drinking water taps. In addition, there are children's and sports grounds. Behind the dunes on the lake, there is a separate swimming area for children. For a fee, you can rent umbrellas, comfortable sun loungers different types and price categories. There are several cafes and a restaurant on the beach. The rescue post is equipped with communication with the police, ambulance and the village administration.

And what happens, in the whole of Russia there is no one else and there is nothing to equip resorts for a NORMAL vacation? After all, on these beaches it is not diamonds that are handed out or the UFO lands - only people are resting, but they are resting, and not running in search of water or a toilet ...

The Blue Flag is an international award that has been presented annually by the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE), a non-profit organization, since 1987. France is considered the birthplace of the award, where the first award took place in 1985.
The Blue Flag is awarded to a beach for one swimming season in the current year. In a year, the coastal area must once again prove the high quality of the services provided. The renewal time for the Blue Flag certificates in the Northern Hemisphere is annually in late May - early June.

Based on materials:

The Blue Flag is an international environmental award that has been awarded annually since 1987 to only the safest and cleanest beaches around the world. In 2019, 463 beaches in Turkey were awarded the Blue Flag.

Thus, Turkey took 3rd place in the international ranking of the best beaches in the world with high quality water. In this ranking by the number of environmentally clean beaches Turkey was second only to Spain (566 beaches) and Greece (515 beaches).

Turkish Blue Flag beaches

Turkey is proud of its third place in the world ranking for the number of Blue Flag beaches. The Mediterranean province of Antalya has the largest number of Blue Flag beaches in Turkey.

Would you like to visit a country with some of the best beaches in the world? Then take your swimsuit and fly to Turkey! You can choose among 463 beautiful beaches who have received the prestigious "Blue Flag". Crystal pure water, picturesque bays, sandy beaches- and everything is bathed in bright sun.

South Aegean coast of Turkey

Mugla Province: The province of Mugla is home to some of the most popular beaches in Turkey. 102 of these scenic beaches have been awarded the Blue Flag.

Eastern Mediterranean

Mersin Province: In the eastern part Mediterranean Sea located resort town Mersin with a very long coastline... Mersin attracts many tourists with its beautiful wild beaches. "Blue Flag" flaunts on 8 beaches of the Mersin province.

North Aegean coast of Turkey

Balikesir province: 22 beaches of Balikesir have been awarded the prestigious Blue Flag.

Canakkale Province: There are 13 Blue Flag beaches in the Canakkale area.

Other Turkish Blue Flag beaches

Other beaches along the Turkish coast that are also marked with the Blue Flag: 1 beach in Istanbul, 7 beaches in Tekirdag, 1 beach in Yalova, 6 beaches in Kocaeli, 2 beaches in Ordu, 12 beaches in Samsun, 3 beaches in Sakarya, 1 beach in Kirklareli, 3 beaches in Duzce and 1 beach in Van.

A complete list of the best Blue Flag beaches in Turkey: http://www.mavibayrak.org.tr/en/

The international Blue Flag certificate is a guarantee for tourists that the beaches or marinas awarded with this prestigious award are of high standards and are the safest, greenest and best in the world. Have you ever been to such beaches in Turkey? Write your reviews about the most beautiful Turkish beaches you have visited. Follow us on social media and share your travel experience with us.

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