Molène

Île-Molène
Molenez
Île-Molène
Administration
Country France
Region Brittany
Department Finistère
Arrondissement Brest
Canton Saint-Renan
Intercommunality Pays d'Iroise
Mayor Jean-François Rocher
(2008–2014)
Statistics
Elevation 0–26 m (0–85 ft)
Land area1 0.75 km2 (0.29 sq mi)
Population2 214  (2008)
 - Density 285 /km2 (740 /sq mi)
INSEE/Postal code 29084/ 29259
1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km² (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.
2 Population without double counting: residents of multiple communes (e.g., students and military personnel) only counted once.

Molène (Breton: Molenez: 'bald island') is an island off the west coast of Brittany and one of the Ponant Islands, the largest of an archipelago of some twenty islands. Administratively, it is a commune of the Finistère department of Brittany in north-western France.

Together with several neighbouring islets, it forms the commune of Île-Molène. The island is small, less than 1 by 0.9 km (0.56 mi), and has an area of 75 hectares. Its population has declined in recent decades, but Molène remains inhabited, with a population of 277 (2005 census). The community and only port are located to the east of the island, opposite a small island called the Lédénes of Molène that becomes connected at low tide.

Contents

Population

Inhabitants of Île-Molène are called in French Molénais.

Historical populations
Year Pop. ±%
1962 596 —
1968 527 −11.6%
1975 397 −24.7%
1982 330 −16.9%
1990 277 −16.1%
1999 264 −4.7%
2008 214 −18.9%

Amenities

The island's electricity is produced by a small diesel generator. Potable water supplies are from rainwater catchment, with each household additionally maintaining its own cistern.

A local delicacy is Molène sausage, which has the distinction of being smoked with seaweed.

See also

References

External links