Blue flag beach. double red flag

How many met the Blue Flag on the beach? What does it mean? Apparently, not many people know this. Therefore, it is worth figuring out what a special flag means and whether it makes sense to look for beaches marked in this way in advance.

beach holiday

Many people cannot imagine their vacation without gentle sun and the sea. Therefore, annually warm southern resorts receive a huge number of tourists who tend to the beaches. But their requests differ: someone likes a calm sea, while others like small waves and wind. For some, it turns out to be critical whether the beach is pebbly or sandy, but there are people with special requests in general. But be that as it may, everyone understands that you need to relax on the other side, which is completely safe, where there is all the necessary equipment.

Many beaches around the world have a special system of colored flags, which shows that, for example, there are dangerous creatures in the sea, or the waves are too big, and therefore swimming is prohibited. But the same colors are not always used, so it is easy to get confused in the notation. But there is also an international sign - the Blue Flag on the beach. What does it mean?

blue flags

The problem of assessing the quality of beaches has become relevant for a long time, and already in 1985 a special system began its work. Initially, it operated only within Europe, but in 2001, the organization involved in the certification of holiday destinations by the sea became worldwide. Today it has about 50 member countries in Eurasia, Africa, Oceania, North and South America. Initially, the blue flag on the beach meant high quality sea ​​water(according to several parameters), today only those places that meet almost 30 different criteria are marked with it. Obviously, this sign is very prestigious, and such beaches attract more tourists. That is why the requirements are getting tougher every year, but more and more recreation areas receive these awards, and all more countries joins a kind of club. Certification of beaches in the Eastern Hemisphere is carried out in May-June, and - in early November.

Award Criteria

Before each season, the beaches of the countries participating in the project are certified. Many parameters are taken into account, divided into the following categories.

1. Water quality:

• Compliance with the requirements adopted by the EU Directive.
• No discharge of industrial wastewater.
• Availability of local or regional action plans in case of pollution from accidents.
• Preventing the accumulation of algae in recreation areas.
• Meeting the requirements of urban wastewater treatment.

2. Environmental awareness:

• Availability of at least 5 educational programs.
• Timely informing about the accomplished or alleged pollution of the beach.
• Providing visitors with information about applicable laws and codes, as well as rules of conduct.
• Informing about dangerous areas near the coast, including habitats of local flora and fauna, representatives of which can cause harm to humans.
• The presence of a special educational center.
• Timely updating and updating of all information provided.

3. Environmental management:

• The presence of a sufficient number of garbage cans that are regularly serviced and emptied.
• Carrying out regular, and if necessary, daily cleaning of the beach area.
• Existence of a plan for land use and development of the coastal zone separately or on a regional scale.
• Full transport without special permission, unauthorized camping, dumping and car or motorcycle racing on the beach.
• Having secure access.
• Active promotion of environmentally friendly safe species transport to visit the coastal zone.

4. Security:

• Availability of all first aid equipment on the beach.
• Strict implementation of state laws regarding the stay in the recreation area of ​​various animals.
• The presence of lifeguards and the necessary equipment on the beach and / or another way to ensure safety and prevent accidents.
• Access to a source of drinking water.
• The presence of a working phone, in case lifeguards are not working on the beach.
• All buildings and structures must be kept in order and clean.

Not all of the above criteria are mandatory, some of them are advisory in nature. And yet, in order to get the highest rating - the blue flag - every year the authorities try to make the beaches better and better. And many succeed: in 2015, there were 4,159 places on the world map that were awarded this quality mark. The Blue Flag beaches received a huge number of tourists during the summer, while maintaining the necessary level of safety and cleanliness. The prestige of this award is so high that many people even plan their holidays, focusing on the most highly rated recreation areas by experts. So where are most of them located?

Spain

Every year the Blue Flag is awarded to a huge number of beaches. In 2015, Spain became the first in terms of the number of such places - 577 certified sections of sea coasts were counted on its map. Most of the beaches, ecological purity and safety of which are confirmed, are located in Galicia. In second place was Valencia, and in third - Catalonia. Let's see if Spain will be able to keep the lead in 2016 and possibly improve the result? In the meantime, it is much more difficult for an inexperienced tourist to get to a beach that is not marked with a flag, and soon it will probably be completely impossible.

Türkiye

In the spring of 2015, it turned out that another popular southern country received "silver" in the competition for the number of certified beaches. Turkey became it with a score of 436. Most of the marked beaches are located in the regions traditionally popular with Russians - Bodrum, Kemer, Antalya, Marmaris. And there is hope that next year more more places will receive a distinction - the Blue Flag.

Greece

Hellas moved to third place from last year's second, with a result of 395 recreation areas, losing as many as 13 marked coasts. Obviously, the crisis that affected Greece was the reason, among other things, that the government focused on more burning topics. Most of the local beaches, over which the Blue Flag flutters, are concentrated in traditional resort areas- in Crete and Halkidiki.

France

The country that spawned the Blue Flag movement was the fourth largest in 2015. France lagged behind Greece quite a bit - on its territory there are 379 beaches that meet all the criteria for environmental cleanliness and safety. Places for recreation, marked with the Blue Flag, are located on the coast fairly evenly. A sufficient number of them are located both at the English Channel and at mediterranean sea and the Atlantic Ocean.

Cyprus

Another country enduringly loved by northern latitudes, it received 57 awards in 2015, the same as last year, and almost all of them are concentrated in the southern part of the island. This may seem like a small number compared to hundreds in previous countries. However, let's not forget about small sizes islands. By the way, it is worth mentioning that Cyprus is a kind of record holder: firstly, there are marked vacation spots in terms of per capita, and secondly, the largest number of them per unit length coastline. Mostly with the Blue Flag are located in the areas of Limassol, Larnaca, Ayia Napa and Famagusta.

Russia

Despite the fact that the Russian Federation does not have many warm places with beaches, for several years now it has been participating in the Blue Flag program. Unfortunately, during all this time only a couple of yacht clubs have been awarded the prestigious award, but not a single beach has been certified to European standards. However, let's not lose heart: perhaps in the coming years the situation will change for the better.

Long-term observations show that people prefer to relax on clean sand and swim in clean water. The French were the first to appreciate this feature and in 1985 they established a certain certificate. beach quality as blue flag. That's what they called him.

Since 1987, Europe, represented by the EU, once again failed to resist the French fashion and joined the program blue flag.
In 2001, Europe was followed by the rest of the world and now, as of December 2017, about 50 countries are participating in the program. Of these, 45 countries have Blue Flag facilities.
Except beaches the program assesses marinas (moorings of boats and yachts) and ships.

The program is run by the International Federation for Environmental Education - FEO (Foundation for Environmental Education - FEE). Only she has the right to issue. The marina or ship receives the flag for one year, and the beach for the bathing season in the current year. A year later, they must all reaffirm their right to fly the blue flag. Update time blue flag certificates in the Northern Hemisphere annually in late May - early June. For the Southern Hemisphere and countries Caribbean this happens around November 1st.

Beach, over which flutters blue flag, guarantees vacationers that

• access to the beach is free
• water is clean and tested weekly
• garbage is collected and sand is cleaned
• there is a surveillance and rescue service on the beach
• if necessary, emergency assistance can be provided right on the beach
• there are showers
• motor vehicles do not drive on the beach
• pets use another beach

This list can be continued because there are 29 criteria for evaluating beaches. The norms laid down in them are very rigid and tend to become even tougher over time. Comprehensive information about the program can be found on the website of the Blue Flag program.

We, ordinary vacationers, do not need to study all the subtleties of the program. It is enough to know that Blue flag on the beach it is a reliable indicator and guarantor highest quality beach holiday.

Unfortunately, Russia's positions in the Blue Flag are not yet as strong as we would like. But in 2016, finally appeared the first Russian beach with the Blue Flag. The beach is located in the Kaliningrad region, in the village of Yantarny. The certificate was issued from June 1, 2016 to September 1, 2016.

Number of Blue Flags by country.

So that you can navigate the state of affairs with the quality of the beaches in different countries ah, I bring you a table with the number of Blue Flags by country. Using the buttons, you can select the year for which you want to view the data. Columns with "+-" signs reflect the change in the number of flags in relation to the previous year.

Unfortunately, the website of the Blue Flag program is not distinguished by its quality and convenience, besides, it is constantly being "finished" and not always for the better. Therefore, some years are missing from my database, sorry...

Blue Flag 2017

And in conclusion of this completely non-commercial topic, I would like to say the following. Friends, believe me, the French are not to blame for the fact that there are no beaches on Russian beaches yet blue flags. If it is in your power, try to make them appear with us. And if you are lucky and you will rest on beach already awarded blue flag, try to leave it as clean as it met you!

Traveling abroad with a worthy mission - to acquire a pleasant bronze tan, not immediately, but you pay attention to some incomprehensible flags hung there. As it turns out, they are there not just for beauty (although they add brightness and festivity with their appearance). In fact, each color of the flag (on the beach) and even its shape has a certain
essential for vacationers.

For the convenience of vacationers, the meaning of the same flags on the beaches of different countries is the same.

flag classification.

Blue flag (may be with a pattern).

The beaches marked with the Blue Flag are beaches that have passed 32 international criteria responsible for environmental cleanliness, that the beach is well equipped and freely accessible to vacationers.

The blue flag also comes with an additional pattern of white stripes. This means that this beach is characterized by increased comfort.

There are almost no beaches approved by the Blue Flag award on the territory of Russia and Ukraine. The maximum that can be seen on the beaches of these countries is the Blue Flag with a pattern of shells (most often, three shells). This flag only stands for the beach. superior comfort.

Green flag.

Water entry is allowed. The water is calm, the wind is normal.

If the beach is equipped and clearly maintained, but no flags are visible on it, it is presumably worthy of a green flag.

Yellow/orange flag.

There will be waves or a strong current in the sea today. Lifeguards present on the beach can (at their discretion) not let vacationers into the water.

Red flag.

Swimming is prohibited today.

Double red flag.

Increased degree of danger. Entering the water is prohibited.

Risk options for which a red flag can be set:

Purple/blue flag.

Animals or other living creatures dangerous to life and health (sharks, rays, jellyfish, snakes, etc.) appeared off the coast.

Brown (sometimes orange) flag.

The local beach or coastal area is polluted. For example, an oil slick was discovered off the coast of a beach.

Black flag or balloon.

Shark attacks on humans have been recorded in the waters of this beach. Entering the water is strictly prohibited.

Black and white flag (maybe a chess pattern).

This is how surf spots are marked. In the area limited by such flags, it is undesirable to swim with ordinary swimming trunks - you can run into a surfer.

Flag with a black circle on a yellow background.

On US beaches within the area marked with these flags, riding heavy boards (for surfing) is prohibited.

Red and yellow flag.

These flags on the beaches of the United States and Australia mark the area controlled by lifeguards. Outside the zone marked with red and yellow flags, water users are responsible for themselves.

Blue triangular flag.

Similar flags are common on the beaches of Vietnam. They say that there is a certain danger in the waters of the designated beach: strong waves or currents.

White flag.

You can swim in the waters of the beach where such a flag stands.

"Shark" flag.

In addition to the above colored flags, flags are also set up on the beaches, which indicate the degree of threat from sharks in coastal waters. The flag has an outline of a shark and a different background color: green, red, black and white.

Tourists are exploring new beach areas, but not everyone is aware of what the colors of the flags that lifeguards set on the beaches mean.

The color of the flag set on the beach encodes important information for the tourist. Flags can be combined, then the information encrypted in them is summed up.

1. Blue flag.

A patterned blue flag or simply a sky blue flag is usually flown on a beach that has been accredited for 27 points. In fact, the presence of such a flag is a certificate of quality for the beach. Placing such a flag is prestigious and many resorts are fighting for the presence of a blue flag on their territory. The flag sometimes shows the year the flag was received. The beaches are certified every year, the commission comes to the country and inspects the beaches in a row, determining compliance with the agreed criteria. The Ministry of Tourism of any country cheerfully reports on the number of blue flags received.

In Europe, beaches are certified before the start of the summer holiday season.

There are no blue flag beaches in Russia and Ukraine!

2. Red flag.

The red flag with or without inscriptions has a single meaning: prohibition to enter the water at all.

Even if the sea (ocean, river, lake) seems calm to you, do not think that the flag was set by accident or someone forgot to remove it.

Reasons for setting a red flag may be:

Storm or high tide,

The presence in the water of predators dangerous to humans (for example, sharks, alligators, sea or river snakes, etc. "evil creatures", and in Africa - lakes where a meeting with malarial mosquitoes is likely),

The strongest ebb currents leaving the coast, which threaten to drag you into the open sea / ocean, where you will be exhausted and may die,

The beginning of the hunting period for nocturnal inhabitants, and therefore the period is dangerous for swimming (usually night),

The presence of a zone of quicksands,

The presence of a zone of whirlpools

and a myriad of other reasons.

If there is a red flag, be sure to check with lifeguards, local merchants, or local residents about the reasons for putting one up.

Always ask local residents- is it allowed to swim here!

It is unnecessary to remind you of the ban on swimming on beaches or shores where there are no rescue booths - there is simply no one to warn you about a possible danger.

Usually red flags are set at a distance of 50 meters from each other. But even one such flag should be enough for you to return to the pool or hotel.

3. Yellow flag / Orange flag.

There are lifeguards on the beach. Swimming is not recommended, you can enter the water, but most likely there are waves and under certain circumstances the lifeguards have the right not to let you into the water.

For Russia, Ukraine and the countries of the former socialist camp, such a flag only means that there are lifeguards on the shore and therefore swimming is allowed.

4. Blue flags, often triangular (Vietnam).

Swimming is allowed, but there is a risk to life. Often these flags indicate the presence of severe open water swells.

5. Green flag.

Swimming is allowed. Usually it is not installed at all.

6. White flag.

Swimming is allowed. Usually set as the opposite of the black flag.

7. Black flag / ball.

A black shark flag is often erected in areas where the danger of shark attacks is especially strong (in some countries the shark flag is red or just red).

For Russia, Ukraine and the countries of the former socialist camp, such a black ball means a ban on swimming in general.

8. Purple flag.

The ban on swimming due to the presence of toxic jellyfish in the water, which came ashore due to annual migration or heavy rains.

Yellow and purple flags one above the other are typical for US beaches and mean a warning about the presence of jellyfish, stingrays or sharks dangerous to humans in the water. In any case, when swimming, one must be extremely careful and not swim far from the shore.

9. Chess black and white flag (usually there are 2 of them).

Area dedicated to surfers and other sports disciplines. Swimming in such an area is not recommended, as you can get injured from a collision with athletes or their ammunition.

10. Yellow-red flag (usually 2).

Every tourist, while traveling, is happy to learn new beach places, however, not everyone is aware of the semantic meaning of the colors of the flags set on the beaches by lifeguards.

By design, the color of the beach flag carries information that is very important for tourists. Flags can be installed in a combined version and then the semantic load is multiplied.

1. Blue flag.

A blue flag with an image or just sky - blue flag most often decorate beach areas accredited for 27 points. Simply put, such a flag is a symbol of a beach of high quality in all respects. Any resort dreams of placing a blue flag on its beach, but it is not easy to get one. Sometimes the year the flag was received is indicated directly on the canvas. Certification by a special commission takes place almost every year. The beach is carefully inspected and its compliance with accepted standards is determined. In any country with a developed beach tourism industry, the number of blue flags is of paramount importance.

The Blue Flag with a white circle and three blue waves means that the beach fully complies with sanitary standards, there are no industrial drains nearby, there are no animals on this beach in summer, body of water it is fenced with buoys and fencing zones, cleaning is regularly carried out on the shore, there is no excess vegetation on the beach, and the entire territory is equipped with trash cans and information boards.

In addition, there are convenient descents to the water on the territory, and lifeguards monitor the safety of swimmers on the shore.

The verifiers can check the presence and status of all these mandatory attributes at any time, and if something is wrong, you can easily say goodbye to the flag. The blue flag award is for a season only. In the future, all procedures will have to be repeated.

Blue Flags mark not only the beaches on the seashore, but also areas on the coast of fresh water reservoirs.

European beaches are being tested before the start of the summer season. Unfortunately, neither Russia nor Ukraine can boast of the presence of beach areas marked with blue flags.

2. Red flag.

Red flags, in any case, whether they have inscriptions or not, mean one thing: it is forbidden to enter the water. Even if the sea in this place seems calm and calm to you, you should not think that the flag was set here by mistake or by an absurd accident.

The red flag is set if:

• storms or high tidal waves;
• the presence of dangerous predators in the water area (for example, sharks, crocodiles, snakes, etc.);
• appearing strong ebb currents, once in which, you can quickly find yourself in the open sea;
• the beginning of the hunting period of the nocturnal inhabitants of a certain section of the coast;
• the presence of areas with quicksand;
• the presence of zones with powerful whirlpools, etc. and so on.

If you see a red flag, be sure to ask the rescuers or local residents about the reason for its appearance. Always try to ask the locals if you can swim in this place!

It would be useful to remind you of the ban on swimming where there is not even a hint of a rescue booth with a lifeguard who could respond to calls for help.

Most often, the distance between red flags is 50 meters. But even if the red flag is in splendid isolation, its formidable appearance should be enough to make a decision.

3. Yellow flag / Orange flag.

These flags indicate that the beach is partially closed and swimming is not recommended.

You can enter the water, but because of big waves lifeguards have the right not to let tourists into the water.

In Ukraine, Russia and other CIS countries, this flag indicates the presence of lifeguards, and, consequently, the absence of a ban on swimming.

4. Green flag.

Swimming is allowed. Usually the green flag is not set.

5. White flag.

Swimming is allowed. Set as the antipode of the black flag.

6. Black flag / balloon.

A black flag depicting a shark is placed where sharks are seen frequently (the flag may be red in some countries).

In Russia, Ukraine and other countries of the former USSR, with the help of such a black ball, bathing is generally prohibited.

7. Purple flag.

The purple flag is used to ban swimming. The reason for the ban is the presence in the water a large number toxic jellyfish.

8. Chess black and white flag (usually there are 2 of them).

With the help of this flag (flags), an area is allocated for surfers and other sports.

It is better not to swim in such an area, since the likelihood of a collision with athletes is quite high.

9. Yellow-red flag (usually 2).

With the help of this flag (flags), a zone is allocated that is allowed for swimming under the supervision of lifeguards.

In countries such as the United States and Australia, lifeguards try to generally prevent swimming outside the zone indicated by such flags.

10. Yellow flag with a black circle inside.

This flag is commonly used in the USA. It means a ban on the use of heavy boards for surfing in places where swimming is allowed.

11. Blue flag with three shells.

Such a unique flag is not used on the beach anywhere except Ukraine.

Install it on beach areas increased comfort, including for the disabled.

Considering that the Crimean beaches and beaches of other regions of Ukraine will not be able to claim blue flags in the near future (point 1 of our story), then the use of these signs is explained only by the desire to somehow attract vacationers.

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