Istres
| Istres | ||
|---|---|---|
 | ||
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  Istres | ||
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Location within Provence-A.-C.d'A. region  Istres | ||
| Coordinates: 43°30′54″N 4°59′22″E / 43.51510°N 04.98950°ECoordinates: 43°30′54″N 4°59′22″E / 43.51510°N 04.98950°E | ||
| Country | France | |
| Region | Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur | |
| Department | Bouches-du-Rhône | |
| Arrondissement | Istres | |
| Canton | Istres Nord and Istres Sud | |
| Intercommunality | Ouest Provence | |
| Government | ||
| • Mayor (2008–2014) | François Bernardini | |
| Area | ||
| • Land1 | 113.73 km2 (43.91 sq mi) | |
| Population (2008) | ||
| • Population2 | 42,603 | |
| • Population2 Density | 370/km2 (970/sq mi) | |
| INSEE/Postal code | 13047 / 13800 | |
| Elevation |
0–120 m (0–394 ft) (avg. 20 m or 66 ft) | |
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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. | ||
Istres (French pronunciation: [istʁ]) (Occitan: Istre) is a commune in southern France, some 60 km (38 mi) northwest of Marseille. It is in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region, in the Bouches-du-Rhône department, of which it is a subprefecture. Its inhabitants are called Istréens and Istréennes.
History
On April 25, 2013, a gunman shot and killed three people with a Kalashnikov rifle in a shooting spree in Istres. The Kalashnikov was found abandoned in a ditch after the shooting. The suspected gunman was arrested not far from the scene. He is known for hording military weapons and having a history of psychiatric problems. Some media reports have said that he had a history of mental illness while the RTL Group claim he is affiliated with Al-Qaeda.[1]
Location
Istres is adjacent to the étang de Berre lagoon (the largest in Europe) and the étang de l'Olivier lagoon. It is located some 60 km (38 mi) north-west of Marseille, 20 km (13 mi) south-west of Salon-de-Provence, 10 km (6 mi) north of Martigues and 45 km (28 mi) south-east of Arles. Istres is also adjacent to the plaine de la Crau and the Camargue national park.
Istres has a Mediterranean climate characterised by mild, humid winters and hot, dry summers. January and February are the coldest months, averaging temperatures of around 7 °C. July and August are the hottest months. The mean summer temperature is around 24 °C (75 °F) with an average maximum temperature around 32°C. The amount of precipitation is around 566 mm (22 inches) per year. The Mistral, a cold and often violent wind, blows through the city mostly in winter and spring.
Population
| Historical population | ||
|---|---|---|
| Year | Pop. | ±% |
| 1793 | 2,081 | — |
| 1800 | 2,081 | +0.0% |
| 1806 | 1,991 | −4.3% |
| 1821 | 2,785 | +39.9% |
| 1831 | 3,023 | +8.5% |
| 1836 | 3,036 | +0.4% |
| 1841 | 3,122 | +2.8% |
| 1846 | 3,268 | +4.7% |
| 1851 | 3,389 | +3.7% |
| 1856 | 3,614 | +6.6% |
| 1861 | 3,776 | +4.5% |
| 1866 | 3,905 | +3.4% |
| 1872 | 3,937 | +0.8% |
| 1876 | 3,849 | −2.2% |
| 1881 | 3,701 | −3.8% |
| 1886 | 3,750 | +1.3% |
| 1891 | 3,405 | −9.2% |
| 1896 | 3,495 | +2.6% |
| 1901 | 3,517 | +0.6% |
| 1906 | 3,681 | +4.7% |
| 1911 | 3,810 | +3.5% |
| 1921 | 5,462 | +43.4% |
| 1926 | 5,547 | +1.6% |
| 1931 | 7,034 | +26.8% |
| 1936 | 7,286 | +3.6% |
| 1946 | 5,749 | −21.1% |
| 1954 | 8,009 | +39.3% |
| 1962 | 9,478 | +18.3% |
| 1968 | 13,404 | +41.4% |
| 1975 | 18,129 | +35.3% |
| 1982 | 28,561 | +57.5% |
| 1990 | 35,163 | +23.1% |
| 1999 | 38,855 | +10.5% |
| 2008 | 42,603 | +9.6% |
Sights
Istres is the home of the Le Tubé Air Base (Istres-Le Tubé Air Base or BA 125). This air base was one of 3 utilized by NASA as a contingency landing site for the Space Shuttle in the case of a Transoceanic Abort Landing (TAL).[2] Istres shared this responsibility with Zaragoza, Spain and Moron, Spain.
See also
References
External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Istres. |
