Andernos-les-Bains
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Andernos-les-Bains is a commune of the Gironde département, in France.
Andernos les Bains is a located in the heart of Archachon Bay. The bay is a natural preservation area. Archachon Bay covers an area of 15 000 hectars. Due to its connection to the Atlantic Ocean, tides can be strong.
Andernos les Bains consists of four other small communities: Taussat, Cassy, Lanton and Audenge. There are 9442 inhabitants (1999). All these villages are characterised by their oyster farms and small fisheries. The oyster and fishing industry provided for a long time the main income to the area. Nowadays, it has changed and tourism plays a stong economical factor to the area.
Andernos les Bains has a 5,4 km long sand beach.
The closest airport is Bordeaux Merignac (30 km).
The nearest city is Bordeaux.
Points of interest:
Pyla Dune - the longest in Europe; Island of Birds - with two bird houses in the middle of the bay which act as landmarks; Cap Feret light house at the tip of the Archachon Bay.
The bay was well known for the Portuguese oyster which however died out during 1970-1972 because of gill disease. But a new oyster was found, the "Pacific oyster". Nevertheless, in 1974 the new oyster had a disease which was caused by the paint of the fishing boats. When a tanker spilled lots of oil into the bay in 1978 it seemed that the oyster industry was dying out. Until 1981 the oyster industry suffered substantially around the bay. This was a disaster for whole of France and Europe as the Archachon oyster is world known as a delicatesse.
Since 2000 the oyster industry has been recovering and now nearly 15,000 metric tons are produced per year.
