The Blue Flag is a certificate that is 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 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 Blue Flag sign. Photo: RIA Novosti / Igor Zarembo
Who evaluates the safety of beaches?
The safety of beaches is assessed by experts from the Federation for Environmental Education - FEO (Foundation for Environmental Education - FEE). Quality certificate in the form blue flag first established by the French in 1985.
The blue flag is awarded to the beach for one swimming season in the current year. In a year, the coastal area must re-prove high quality provided services.
The renewal time for Blue Flag certificates in the Northern Hemisphere is annually at the end of May - beginning of June.
By what criteria are beaches evaluated?
The evaluation of beaches is carried out on the basis of compliance with 32 criteria, which reflect 4 main aspects:
1. Environmental education and information
- Information about the "Blue Flag" must be displayed on the territory.
- Ecological and educational activities should be carried out with visitors to this beach.
- Bathing water quality information should be displayed.
- Information about the local ecosystem and environmental phenomena should be displayed.
- There should be a map of the beach with the available objects marked on it.
- Information about the rules of conduct and stay on the beach and adjacent 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 water quality standards based on the analysis of samples taken.
- No industrial and waste water discharges affecting the beach area.
- The beach must meet the requirements of the "Blue Flag" for microbiological parameters of the content coli(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 managers or owners of the beach are obliged to comply with all regulatory documents for the arrangement and operation of the beach.
- The beach must be clean.
- Algae, vegetation or other natural debris must not be left on the beach.
- Garbage bins/receptacles must be available on the beach in sufficient quantity and must be serviced regularly.
- The beach should have containers for segregated waste collection for subsequent recycling.
- There should be a sufficient number of toilets on the beach.
- Toilets or latrines must be kept clean.
- Toilets or latrines must be equipped with sewage.
- There should be no unauthorized release or dumping of waste on the beach.
- All buildings and beach equipment must be kept in good order.
- Coral reefs in close proximity to the beach should be controlled.
- Parking Vehicle should not be carried out in the beach area.
4. Security and services
- A sufficient number of lifeguards and lifesaving equipment must be available on the beach.
- First aid equipment must be available on the beach.
- There must be emergency plans and plans to deal with the risk of environmental pollution.
- The administration should take measures to prevent and prevent conflict situations and accidents with beach visitors.
- There must be security measures in place to protect beach visitors.
- The beach must have drinking water.
- At least one of the "Blue Flag" beaches in each municipality must have wheelchairs and special equipment to accept the disabled.
- At least one of the Blue Flag beaches in each municipality must be able to accommodate wheelchair users and people with disabilities.
Thus, the beach, over which the blue flag flutters, guarantees vacationers that
- access to the beach is free,
- the water is clean and tested weekly,
- the garbage is collected and the sand is cleaned,
- on the beach there are showers, 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,
- on the beach there are conditions for people with disabilities.
When planning trips, many vacationers are guided by the Blue Flag ratings. This is an international award given annually since 1987 to beaches and marinas whose water meets high quality standards and is suitable for safe swimming. The Blue Flag nomination is managed by the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE). More than 40 countries participate in the program.
In 2013, Spain ranked first among the countries with the most Blue Flag beaches (550 holiday destinations). The top five also included Greece, Türkiye, France and Portugal.
European countries - leaders in the number of beaches marked with the "Blue Flag" BlueFlag.Org data (2013)
| Rating | Countries | Number of beaches noted "Blue Flag" |
Regions with the most number of Blue Flags |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Spain | 550 | Galicia |
| 2 | Greece | 393 | Lasithi |
| 3 | Türkiye | 383 | Antalya |
| 4 | France | 365 | Provence - Alps - Cote d'Azur |
| 5 | Portugal | 279 | Algarve |
| 6 | Italy | 248 | Liguria |
| 7 | Denmark | 242 | Southern Denmark | 8 | Croatia | 102 | Istrian County | 9 | Great Britain | 95 | Wales | 10 | Ireland | 70 | Connacht |
1. Spain
The Spanish coastline with a total length of 8,000 km attracts more than 43.5 million tourists annually. At the regional level, in terms of the number of clean beaches (127), the leader is autonomous community Galicia, within which there are especially many Blue Flags in A Coruña. Riazor and Orzan beaches are widely known. However, for those who are used to swimming in the Mediterranean Sea, the local water may seem cold.
2. Greece
Among the Greek regions, Lasithi, a large tourist center located in Crete. There are especially many clean beaches in the capital of this nome, the city of Agios Nikolaos. The best is Almyros, a long sandy beach, where the cold current flows into the warm sea. In windy weather, it is better to choose pebble beaches, which are in abundance here.
3. Türkiye
In 2013, 383 Turkish beaches were marked with the Blue Flag, of which more than half (197) are located in Antalya. Therefore, it is not surprising that this is the most popular region among Russian tourists. Most famous beaches- Konyaalti (in the west of Antalya) and Lara (in the east). The latter is the focus of all-inclusive holidays on the territory of four- and five-star hotels.
4. France
In France, every day you can relax on a new beach marked with the "Blue Flag", because there are 365 of them. The Provence - Alpes - Cote d'Azur region is especially rich in them (96 beaches with the "Blue Flag"). To the west of Nice (Cannes, Antibes, Juan-les-Pins, Saint-Tropez) stretch sandy beaches, in Nice itself and further towards Italy, they are pebbly. The coast is not wide - about 30–40 m.
5. Portugal
The Algarve is the most sophisticated and sought after region in Portugal. Of the 279 Blue Flags, a quarter went to the beaches of this particular area. The main resorts are Quinta do Lago and Vale do Lobo, as well as the Golden Triangle, which includes Goldra, Lole and Santa Barbara de Nexe. There are located best beaches in Portugal. The coast stretches for 150 km from east to west from Monte Gordo to Lagos. It is protected from northern winds by mountain ranges. In the west are rocky beaches, in the east - sandy.
6. Italy
In Italy, the beaches marked with the "Blue Flag" are the most in Liguria (35). Best Resorts- Portofino, Rapallo and Santa Margherita Ligure. Those who love walking will enjoy walking along the "Via del Amore", or "Road of Love", a path that winds its way along the coast of the Cinque Terre. Breathtaking sea views will make your trip unforgettable.
7. Denmark
Denmark has coastline 7,400 km long - about the same as in Brazil and longer than in India. For every 180 km² of the country, there is a Blue Flag beach. They are especially numerous (71) in the south of Denmark, where there are many islands where city dwellers go to relax on weekends (which is why so many Danes have a chocolate tan). The visiting card of this region is marinas with yachts.
8. Croatia
Little Croatia, which has a smaller area Krasnodar Territory, has a coastline with a length of about 2,000 km. At the same time, on average, every 20 km there is a beach marked with the Blue Flag. Istria County is especially rich in clean beaches - there are 43 such beaches. This region is located in the west of Croatia and includes most of the Istrian peninsula on the Adriatic Sea.
9. UK
Unlike, for example, Turkey or Croatia, the UK does not have a reputation resort country. However, even here there were 95 beaches worthy of the Blue Flag nomination. Among the regions, most of them are in Wales (33 beaches). Compared to 2012, there are 10 fewer Blue Flags in this part of the UK - last year was too wet, which had a bad effect on water quality.
10. Ireland
Ireland is a little behind the UK: there are 70 Blue Flag beaches. Most of them (19) are located in the west of the country, in the province of Connaught, in just two counties - Galway and Mayo. The local beaches are famous only on the scale of Ireland and are not in demand among wealthy foreigners, as, for example, in the case of Liguria and the Cote d'Azur.
Beach holidays are perhaps one of the most popular types of recreation in the world. Many people prefer to vacation in seaside cities to be able to enjoy the warm sun and gentle sea. But how not to make a mistake in choosing such a place? The quality mark of the beaches, the Blue Flag award, will help in this matter.
This is an award that is given annually to beaches and marinas (piers) for meeting water quality and cleanliness standards designed for safe swimming. This status is a non-profit non-state award, which is managed by the Foundation for Environmental Education.
A bit of history. France is considered the birthplace of the Blue Flag beach quality mark. It was here that the first award took place in 1985. And since 1987, it began to be awarded around the world. Today, 48 countries are already participating in the award, and every year the number of participants is growing steadily.
The award takes place on June 5 for countries located in the Northern Hemisphere and on November 1 for countries located in the Southern Hemisphere. This year, more than 3,700 beaches and marinas in 48 countries received this status. In 2012, Spain became the leader in the number of beaches on which this flag flaunts, there are 539 beaches and 83 berths, in the upcoming season this number reaches 550 beaches and 97 berths.
Russia also boasts of having a Blue Flag on its beaches and piers on the Black Sea coast - five in Yalta, five in Evpatoria, one each in Ilyichevsk and Sevastopol. And also the "Tsar's Quay" 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 proudly flies guarantees vacationers:
- free entrance;
- weekly testing of water for purity;
- sand is periodically cleaned and garbage is collected;
- the beach has its own rescue and surveillance service;
- if required, first aid can be provided directly on the beach;
- the presence of showers;
- lack of motor transport;
- pets use the private beach.
Today, the following countries can boast of having this beach quality mark: 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 eco-friendly beach? Faithful 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 jetty meets the highest standards of quality.
The initiative belongs to France, and the non-profit non-governmental organization Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) manages the procedure. European beaches are annually certified before the start of the swimming season, the award is held on June 5th. In total, 3.6 thousand beaches and 677 harbors in 45 countries can boast of the Blue Flags in the world, including such popular tourist destinations as Cyprus, Tunisia, Israel, etc.
In 2018, only one beach was awarded the prestigious mark in Russia. It is located in the village of Yantarny, Kaliningrad Region, and has received the award for the third time in a row. Nevertheless, the beaches of Yalta already fell into the nomination, and last year the beach areas of Sochi joined the fight. The beaches marked with a blue flag have been certified on 27 points, including water quality, safety level, environmental management, the availability of ramps and toilets for wheelchair users, 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 has been adopted in all countries of the world. 
✔ red color, as you might guess, indicate danger - swimming for one reason or another is prohibited. A double red flag indicates an increased danger. These include not only sharks and all kinds of fauna, but also powerful ebb currents that can carry them into the open sea, quicksand, whirlpools.
We found out what the flags located on the beach mean. They mentioned such an award as the Blue Flag. Today we will find out for what such merits this award is presented.
Blue flag.
Blue flag on the beach of Italy
The flag on the blue beach is not just a flag, but a whole award for certain merits.
The Blue Flag has been awarded to the best beaches in France since 1985. Since 1987, this award has become an annual award and the beaches and marinas of Europe, and since 2003 - other countries of the world have begun to receive it.
The nominee for the award is selected by the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE), which includes 65 organizations from 60 countries (from Europe, Africa, Oceania, Asia, North and South America).
The award certificate is issued every year before the start of the swimming season: in the Northern Hemisphere it starts from May to early June, in the Southern Hemisphere and the Caribbean around the first of November. The flags must indicate the year in which the Blue Flag was awarded.
The Ministry of Tourism of countries that award the Blue Flag award reports how many beaches in their country have received this award. Thereby
Bulgaria beach the level of tourist attractiveness of the country for potential vacationers is increasing.
In order for a beach to receive an award, beach authorities must meet 32 standards for beach water quality, safety and environmental education. For berths of such criteria - 25 points.
If you see the Blue Flag on the beach, it means that:
- you can get to the beach and relax there for free;
- the quality of coastal waters is checked in the laboratory every week;
- there are no industrial sources of pollution of coastal waters near the beach;
- garbage from the beach is collected and sorted for subsequent recycling;
- sand or pebbles are cleaned regularly;
- a map of the beach is freely available on the beach, where its main points are indicated (rescue towers, a first-aid post, urns, equipped paths, etc.);
- on the beach there are changing cabins and showers;
- lifeguards are always present and there is a first-aid post, which in an emergency can provide assistance right on the beach;
- there are sources of drinking water on the beach;
- there are no motor vehicles and pets on the beach;
- The beach is accessible to people with disabilities.
Is there a "Blue Flag" in Russia and Ukraine?
In the territory Russian Federation and Ukraine also have Blue Flag beaches. For the first time, a Ukrainian beach (Massandrovsky beach, Yalta) received a world award in 2010, the first Russian beach (in the village of Yantarny, Kaliningrad region) received an award in 2016.
In Ukraine on this moment ten beaches have already been awarded the Blue Flag award, including in Chernomorsk ( Odessa region), children's beaches of the city of Kyiv.
In Russia, the same beach in the village of Yantarny, Kaliningrad Region, can still boast of the Blue Flag.
The beaches of Spain have long been considered the best beaches in the world. The leading place at the time of 2017 among Spanish beaches is occupied by Playa de Muro beach on the island of Mallorca.
Second place goes to the Croatian beach Nikolina.
Third place - Marinha beach (Praia di Marinha), Portugal.
As you can see, the Blue Flag beaches are deservedly reference. And your vacation will be much better if there is a beach with such a worthy reward next to your hotel.
