Mor (sea) + Douar (earth) = Faout (crack)

Above: A ship crashing into the penetrating granite rocks along the coast.

Once again,

 I invite thee to a feast for the ears (assuming you enjoy Breton music).

Also: There are some very lovely images that may or may not be watched.

i. Granitic Tafoni!

ii. Gnamma pits

iii. Joints

iv. Nature takes back its granite from humans

v. springs

If degradation winning over diastrophism means the region is a safe place to live, then Bretagne equates to stability. The region has long slowed its violent building process, and is now in a stage of erosion. 

(1) 

Above: Giant pink granite tafoni.
My mother and father wonder along the rocks.
Photo by Itzel-M. Gourmelon

(2)

Above: Gnamma pits form in the pink granite. 
A mini ecosystem has begun thrive in the comfort of this pit. 
The tip of my shoe at the bottom of the image gives a scale.
Photo by Itzel-M. Gourmelon    

Moreover, roots often infiltIndeed, simply by looking at the coast’s rocks, you can notice granitic tafoni (1), gnamma pits (2), as well as fissures, or joints(3). Each form is violently pounded by the salty water regularly; and, depending on the way the water and salt seep into the granite, each formation is given its distinct appearance.

(3)

Above: Nestled comfortably between two fissured rocks, this house
uses the granite to protect it from harsh weather.
Photo by Itzel-M. Gourmelon

Moreover, roots often infiltrate themselves into the joints and further break the rocks apart (4). 

Both images above: These little buggers (the plants) are inserting
their roots through the fissures in the rock.
These innocent looking little plants
 do a mighty job at breaking this sturdy looking granite.
Photos by Itzel-M. Gourmelon

However, erosion is not obvious only on nature’s scattered rocks; but, also on the granite used on homes, buildings, and megaliths nibbled away by the weathering from salts and lichens (5). 

(5)

Above: This house once had a clear coat of arms of the family inhabiting it. Today, however, the house is in disrepair and the lichens have taken over the rock.
Photo by Itzel-M. Gourmelon

The Bretagne’s granite is significant to the Breton’s history, from prehistoric petroglyphs to Catholic carvings(6), but also to the peril many sailors faced in the dangerous rocks that would too often penetrate the hulls of their ships (as represented in the image at top).   

(6)

Above: The megalith has a petroglyph. Most of the remaining petroglyphs are seen on the rocks of Tumulus (burial sights- or intact Dolmens).

The springs of Bretagne are some of my favorite aspects of the region(7). They carry much ancient religious significance for the druids and, later, the Catholic Church. Both religions believed in the healing power each individual spring possessed. The springs could not exist without Bretagne’s ancient hills and high water table.

(7)

Above: In this 17th century Catholic spring dedicated to St. Barbara,
 the water is clear and frigid as it bubbles out of the earth.
This image displays both a spring and the rock
 being eaten away by the roots and acid
 of the lichens and moss.
Photo by Gaëlle Gourmelon

Above: EXTRA (hooray!): This beautiful Hortensia bush indicates the P.H. of the soil. When the flowers are blue, the soil is acidic. However, when they are a deep pink the soil is alkaline. If the flowers are white, the soil is neutral.
The same bush may have two or three different colors.
Photo by Itzel-M. Gourmelon

Fin! 

Works Cited:

http://www.bookpalace.com/acatalog/SmithJSPorquoiPasLL.jpg

http://cdn.wn.com/pd/a7/47/db6bf492f0dfe8261972afedbbb2_grande.jpg