Le Bassin d'Arcachon

The Bassin d'Arcachon is located in the heart of the Landes de Gascogne. It is triangular in shape, bounded by more than 80 km of flat coastline or wooded dunes. It is widely open to the Bay of Biscay and the tide brings in and out twice a day considerable masses of water. The Basin is partially isolated from the ocean by a dune belt including Cap Ferret, the Dune du Pilat and the Banc d'Arguin. The opening to the Atlantic Ocean is made by a unique access, the "passes", a set of channels about 3 km wide allowing the circulation of water between the basin and the ocean. In the centre of the basin is the Île aux Oiseaux and its chalets.