Les Ecrehous Traditional Geocache
Graculus: As the owner has not responded to my previous log requesting that they check this cache I am archiving it.
Regards
Chris
Graculus - Volunteer UK Reviewer
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Difficulty:
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Terrain:
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Size: 
(small)
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Throughout history few people have lived here for any length of time,2 notable exceptions,each of whom was known as the King of the Ecrehous.
Philip Pinel lived with his wife in a cottage which he built on Blanch Ile in the 19th century & lived here for 50 yrs.
In the 20th century Alphonse Le Gastelois moved here to escape the people who alleged that he was the Beast of Jersey, responsible for attacks on children across Jersey. He stayed on Marmoutier for 14 yrs. In his absence the real Beast of Jersey was found & imprisoned.
In 2005 Les Écréhous were declared a Ramsar site under the Convention on Wetlands of International Importance.
The extensive rocky intertidal areas and warm waters host a large diversity of marine wildlife. The area is particularly valuable for a number of species of waders and seabirds who visit the reef both for shelter and breeding.
The site is situated six miles (9.6 km) to the north-east of Gorey harbour on the east of Jersey. The reef is included in the parish of St Martin.
The site complex consists of two reefs which form an extensive shoal area 11 km long and 3.7 km wide. At high tide only a group of rocky heads and an islet, Le Maitre Isle, are exposed. Four of the heads are large enough to support buildings: La Marmotiére, Le Blianque Îsle, La Grande Brecque and La Petit Breque. The tidal range can exceed 12 m. At low tide various habitats are exposed, including reefs, boulder fields, sandy shores and shingle banks. The area is fed clean well-oxygenated water, and this factor, together with the range of habitats and the site’s biogeographical position supports a wide range of rich and diverse biotopes and some unusual species assemblages. Fishing within the site is of great cultural, social and traditional importance to the population of Jersey.
The site has the one of the largest tidal ranges in the world which can exceed 12 metres, and a wide range of substrata and wave exposure. Its waters are relatively warm due to the influence of the Gulf Stream and surrounding oceanographic conditions.
The area supports wildlife such as bottlednosed, common, white beaked, risso's and striped dolphins, harbour porpoise, pilot whale, atlantic grey seals and basking shark. Birdlife is also abundant and in 2009 a Seabird Protection Zone was created around the reef and a corresponding 'Code of Conduct' created.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Snpvat gur oyhr qbbe vg vf gb gur yrsg haqre sbyvntr, evtug ng gur onpx, jvgu fgbarf pbirevat vg