Bay of Biscay

Home > ... > Places > Oceans, Continents, and Polar Regions > Oceans and Continents > ...

Essential reading Compare
side-by-side World Encyclopedia The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition

Bay of Biscay

Bay of Biscay , arm of the Atlantic Ocean, indenting the coast of W Europe from Ushant island (Île d'Ouessant) off Brittany, NW France, to Cape Ortegal, NW Spain. The bay is noted for its sudden, severe storms and its strong currents. The rocky northeastern and southern coasts of Biscay are irregular with many good harbors; numerous offshore islands are there. The southeastern shore is straight and sandy. The chief ports are Brest, Saint-Nazaire, La Rochelle, and Bayonne in France and San Sebastián, Bilbao, and Santander in Spain. Nantes and Bordeaux, at the head of the Loire and Garonne estuaries, respectively, in France, are also reached by oceangoing ships. There are several resorts along the French coast, notably Biarritz. The bay has important fishing and oyster grounds.

Create a link to this page

Copy and paste this link tag into your Web page or blog:

<a href="http://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/.aspx#1E1-Biscay-B" title="Facts and information about Bay of Biscay">Bay of Biscay</a>

Give this article a thumbs-up on StumbleUpon

Cite this article
Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography.

MLA
Chicago
APA

"Bay of Biscay." The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition. 2008. Encyclopedia.com. 25 Nov. 2009 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

"Bay of Biscay." The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition. 2008. Encyclopedia.com. (November 25, 2009). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-Biscay-B.html

"Bay of Biscay." The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition. 2008. Retrieved November 25, 2009 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-Biscay-B.html

Learn more about citation styles

Biscay, Bay of

World Encyclopedia | 2005 | Â© World Encyclopedia 2005, originally published by Oxford University Press 2005. (Hide copyright information) Copyright

Biscay, Bay of Inlet of the Atlantic Ocean, w of France and n of Spain. It is noted for its strong currents, sudden storms and sardine fishing grounds. The chief ports are Bilbao, San Sebastián and Santander in Spain, and La Rochelle, Bayonne and Saint-Nazaire in France.

Create a link to this page

Copy and paste this link tag into your Web page or blog:

<a href="http://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/.aspx#1O142-BiscayBayof" title="Facts and information about Bay of Biscay">Bay of Biscay</a>

Cite this article
Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography.

MLA
Chicago
APA

"Biscay, Bay of." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. 25 Nov. 2009 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

"Biscay, Bay of." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. (November 25, 2009). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O142-BiscayBayof.html

"Biscay, Bay of." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Retrieved November 25, 2009 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O142-BiscayBayof.html

Learn more about citation styles

Free newspaper and magazine articles

	Russia sends Blackjacks to naval exercises off French coast News Wire article from: AP Worldstream; 1/22/2008
	Precision and accuracy of fish length measurements obtained with two visual underwater methods. Magazine article from: Fishery Bulletin; 1/1/2006
	How to be reconciled with an oil-spill. (Essay). Magazine article from: New Internationalist; 4/1/2003

Facts and information from other sites

Related articles from newspapers, magazines, and more

	A dynamic model of the Bay of Biscay pelagic fleet simulating fishing trip choice: the response to the closure of the European anchovy (Engraulis encrasicolus) fishery in 2005.(Report) Magazine article from: Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences; 11/1/2008; ; 700+ words ; ...at the scale of the trip for the Bay of Biscay fleet of pelagic trawlers. The purpose...describing the background of the Bay of Biscay pelagic fishery and defining the...discussed. Background on the Bay of Biscay pelagic fishery The Bay of Biscay...
	Bay of Biscay sightings give ferry-goers whale of a time. Newspaper article from: The Evening Standard (London, England); 1/21/2002; ; 475 words ; ...to 80ft long, especially in the Bay of Biscay, says ocean study group Orca...Continental Shelf near the Bay of Biscay. It has led to a growing presence...South West Approaches or Bay of Biscay can be emailed to cetaceansightings...
	Deep structure of the Armorican Basin (Bay of Biscay): A review of Norgasis seismic reflection and refraction data Magazine article from: Journal of the Geological Society; 1/1/2003; ; 700+ words ; Abstract: The Bay of Biscay is bounded to the north by the North Biscay margin, which comprises the Western Approaches and...narrow domain called the `neck area'; (3) the North Biscay Ridge is a large oceanic plateau present only off the...
	Poor weather in Bay of Biscay produces calls to Falmouth Coastguard. M2 Presswire; 11/3/2006; 700+ words ; ...UK Government: Poor weather in Bay of Biscay produces calls to Falmouth Coastguard...the coast of Spain in the Bay of Biscay this afternoon. Initially, at 11...heavy weather, also in the Bay of Biscay and required urgent assistance...
	FISHERIES: COMMISSION CLOSES ANCHOVY FISHERY IN BAY OF BISCAY.(Brief Article) Newspaper article from: European Report; 6/25/2005; 700+ words ; ...severely depleted anchovy fishery in the Bay of Biscay - the Atlantic Bay ringed by Northern...advice delivered by ICES. The Bay of Biscay anchovy fishery will be closed as...its initial closure of the Bay of Biscay anchovy fishery "in the light of...
	It's even keel and A-OK until the Bay of Biscay.(News) Newspaper article from: Liverpool Echo (Liverpool, England); 11/1/2002; 459 words ; ...is getting quite choppy, we are heading for the dreaded Bay of Biscay. 8pm: We are in the Bay of Biscay and now I understand why everyone warned me agaiunst it...BOARDER: Reporter Emma Gunby takes a break before the Biscay ordeal
	Bay of biscay proves true to form as challengers survive first leg of marathon Newspaper article from: Western Morning News, The Plymouth (UK); 10/26/2007; 700+ words ; ...most varied weather systems they will encounter. The Bay of Biscay, with its ferocious temper, didn't disappoint and...Rochelle on September 23 and ninth heading out into the Bay of Biscay at the start, Durban 2010 and Beyond won the race...
	Sports active: On the cruellest of seas, a half-Nelson sandwich could get you into a pickle The Bay of Biscay is where oil tankers go to die. So why, having spent just one night at sea in his life, did Richard Martin agree to take his life in his hands through its perilous waters? Newspaper article from: The Independent on Sunday; 6/20/2004; ; 700+ words ; ...sailing across the notoriously harsh Bay of Biscay. Gaffney knows to expect some boat...probably the most renowned, but Biscay is right up there." Indeed, some truly huge vessels have foundered in Biscay's withering elements. The region...
	Mystery of Bay of Biscay. Newspaper article from: The Birmingham Post (England); 1/24/1998; 324 words ; ...to trace Tom Pike, from Birmingham shot down in the Bay of Biscay during the Second World War - can now have an answer...in the north and north-west of Spain including the Bay of Biscay. "I am also trying to locate the fishing boat's...
	The bouncy Bay of Biscay? It can be fun - honestly.(Features) Newspaper article from: The Mail on Sunday (London, England); 7/19/2009; 700+ words ; ...Sebastian Lander ONE thing anyone knows about the Bay of Biscay is that it suffers from the occasional bout of choppiness...was a swimming pool and a helipad. In addition, the Bay of Biscay is a playground for up to 30 species of dolphin and...