The Arcachon Basin

The Arcachon basin is an opening onto the ocean of about 20km. Its name comes from the chapel, built at the beginning of the 16th century and the forest of Arcachon which were dedicated to the souls of sailors perished at sea, as well as to the protection of survivors.

The Basin interrupts the long dune cordon (250km) of the Atlantic Coast, which stretches from the Gironde estuary to the mouth of the Adour. The basin is like a small inland sea of 155km² at high tide and 40km² at low tide.

Within the Basin, fishing, oyster farming and boating are practiced. It is also famous for the many migratory birds that pass through the Atlantic Coast.

Here is a map of some sites of interest in the Arcachon Basin:

Click here to know the sites of interest of the Arcachon Basin