Located in the Manche department on the northeast coast of Cotentin, Utah Beach is made up of a narrow three miles (5 km) long dune strip bordered by a back-coastal marsh integrated into the estuary complex of the Baie des Veys. This dune acts as a natural protective dike between the inland marsh and the sea. It allows cattle grazing punctuated by the rising waters in the marshes. Ponds formed in the holes resulting from the explosions of the Battle of Normandy or dug for livestock contribute to the remarkable flora and fauna of the site.