The Sand Bar

B a n c  d ' A r g u i n

Every season, the Dune of Pilat offers visitors an unforgettable view over the Arguin sandbank, the largest sandbank off the coast of the Aquitaine Region. On the photo you can see in the background the waves of the Atlantic Ocean hitting relentlessly on its beaches. This sandbank, which actually consists of several parts, is a nature reserve. It is at low tide around 4 kilometers long and 2 kilometers wide. Because of tides, currents and wind, its shape and location are changing continuously. It protects the Dune of Pilat from the surf of the Atlantic Ocean. Many bird species are found here such as the sandwich tern, the Kentish plover and oystercatchers. The sandbank is of great importance to the oyster farmers of the Arcachon Bay.