Biscarrosse

Biscarrosse is a commune in the Landes department in Nouvelle-Aquitaine in southwestern France. It is located 65 km (40 mi) southwest of Bordeaux, and 10 km (6.2 mi) inland from the seaside resort of Biscarrosse-Plage on the Atlantic coast.

Biscarrosse
Commune
Biscarrosse elm in January; died 2010.
Coat of arms
Location of Biscarrosse
Biscarrosse
Biscarrosse
Coordinates: 44°23′39″N 1°09′46″W
CountryFrance
RegionNouvelle-Aquitaine
DepartmentLandes
ArrondissementMont-de-Marsan
CantonGrands Lacs
IntercommunalityGrands Lacs
Government
 • Mayor (2014–2020) Alain Dudon
Area
1
160.48 km2 (61.96 sq mi)
Population
 (2017-01-01)[1]
14,182
 • Density88/km2 (230/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+01:00 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+02:00 (CEST)
INSEE/Postal code
40046 /40600
Elevation0–78 m (0–256 ft)
(avg. 26 m or 85 ft)
1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km2 (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.

Near Biscarrosse is the CEL (national test centre) from which numerous French military rockets have been launched for test purposes. Likewise, the CEL has facilities for launching civilian rockets to study the upper atmosphere.

Near the town centre, outside the Café de l'orme, there was what is believed to have been the oldest elm tree in Europe. Planted in 1350, this Field Elm Ulmus minor died in 2010 after finally succumbing to Dutch elm disease.[2] Legend has it that girls deemed promiscuous were forced to stand naked upon a barrel beneath the tree for a day. One unfortunate, unjustly accused, died of shame, the tree annually producing a corona of blanched leaves in her memory.

The commune has an airport, called Biscarrosse - Parentis Airport.

Etymology

The toponym Biscarrosse derives from the Aquitanian language[3] or directly from the Basque word bizkar, meaning 'low ridge' or 'prominence'[4] followed by the Aquitanian suffix -ossum/-os,[3] that was used to mark presence.[4] Related toponyms are Biscay and Biscarrués.

Climate
Climate data for Biscarrosse (1981–2010)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 18.6
(65.5)		 24.0
(75.2)		 26.8
(80.2)		 30.8
(87.4)		 33.5
(92.3)		 39.1
(102.4)		 39.5
(103.1)		 39.3
(102.7)		 35.5
(95.9)		 30.9
(87.6)		 27.7
(81.9)		 24.2
(75.6)		 39.5
(103.1)
Average high °C (°F) 10.7
(51.3)		 11.9
(53.4)		 14.5
(58.1)		 16.2
(61.2)		 19.4
(66.9)		 22.4
(72.3)		 24.6
(76.3)		 24.7
(76.5)		 23.4
(74.1)		 19.8
(67.6)		 14.5
(58.1)		 11.4
(52.5)		 17.8
(64.0)
Daily mean °C (°F) 7.7
(45.9)		 8.4
(47.1)		 10.8
(51.4)		 12.5
(54.5)		 15.8
(60.4)		 18.8
(65.8)		 20.9
(69.6)		 20.9
(69.6)		 19.3
(66.7)		 16.0
(60.8)		 11.2
(52.2)		 8.3
(46.9)		 14.2
(57.6)
Average low °C (°F) 4.6
(40.3)		 4.8
(40.6)		 7.1
(44.8)		 8.8
(47.8)		 12.0
(53.6)		 15.1
(59.2)		 17.2
(63.0)		 17.2
(63.0)		 15.1
(59.2)		 12.2
(54.0)		 7.8
(46.0)		 5.0
(41.0)		 10.6
(51.0)
Record low °C (°F) −12.3
(9.9)		 −7.7
(18.1)		 −6
(21)		 −0.7
(30.7)		 4.8
(40.6)		 8.0
(46.4)		 10.0
(50.0)		 11.0
(51.8)		 6.0
(42.8)		 0.3
(32.5)		 −3.0
(26.6)		 −7.8
(18.0)		 −12.3
(9.9)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 81.6
(3.21)		 60.8
(2.39)		 58.6
(2.31)		 64.8
(2.55)		 56.9
(2.24)		 43.1
(1.70)		 35.6
(1.40)		 41.3
(1.63)		 62.4
(2.46)		 83.1
(3.27)		 93.4
(3.68)		 72.8
(2.87)		 756.6
(29.79)
Average precipitation days (≥ 1.0 mm) 12.57 9.87 11.04 10.70 9.85 7.14 6.04 5.73 6.69 10.45 12.43 10.05 112.56
Mean monthly sunshine hours 111.6 109.6 156.8 146.2 219.7 277.1 262.1 168.6 208.4 134.2 107.7 89.5 1,991.5
Source: Meteo climat[5][6]

Population
Historical population
YearPop.±%
19623,048—    
19687,159+134.9%
19758,058+12.6%
19828,065+0.1%
19909,054+12.3%
19999,290+2.6%
200612,031+29.5%
201313,983+16.2%

Seaplane activity

Nearby Hourtiquet once hosted an important seaplane base, serving the builder Latécoère and airlines Aéropostale and its successor Air France. A seaplane museum exists at the shores of the Lac de Biscarrosse et de Parentis.

During World War II the base served German military seaplanes; two Dornier 24 flying boats were recovered from the lake in 1980 and 1981.[7]

Since 1991, the lake has seen bi-annual seaplane fly-ins.[8]

Lake Biscarosse

Oil exploration

After the demise of seaplanes after WW2, the lake gained new interest at the discovery of petroleum. It has the greatest reserve in France. Petroleum exploitation is situated on the shores of the lake, in the commune of Parentis.

Education

References
  1. "Populations légales 2017". INSEE. Retrieved 6 January 2020.
  2. http://www.pijouls.com/albums/alblormedebiscarrosse/page_01.htm
  3. Dauzat, Albert (1979). Dictionnaire étymologique des noms de lieu en France [Etymological Dictionary of name places in France] (in French). Paris: Librairie Guénégaud. ISBN 2-85023-076-6.
  4. "Website of town of Biscarrosse". Archived from the original on 2008-10-26. Retrieved 2014-11-21.
  5. "Moyennes 1981/2010: Région Aquitaine" (in French). Météoclimat. Retrieved January 5, 2016.
  6. "STATION Biscarosse" (in French). Météoclimat. Retrieved January 5, 2016.
  7. http://www.preservedaxisaircraft.com/Luftwaffe/dornier/dornier.htm
  8. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2010-12-16. Retrieved 2010-11-09.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)


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