Bay of Biscay facts for kids
The Bay of Biscay is a large part of the Atlantic Ocean that curves into the land. It's like a big bay or "gulf" found south of the Celtic Sea. This bay touches the western coast of France, stretching from a city called Brest all the way down to the border with Spain. It also runs along the northern coast of Spain, reaching west to Cape Ortegal.
The name "Biscay" comes from a Spanish province called Biscay, which is in the Basque Country region of Spain.
The Bay of Biscay is quite deep! On average, it's about 1,744 meters (5,722 feet) deep. At its deepest point, it plunges down to 2,789 meters (9,150 feet).
Contents
Weather in the Bay of Biscay
The Bay of Biscay is known for its strong weather, especially in winter. Big storms can form here. In the past, these storms were very dangerous for ships, and many were lost.
Today, ships are much stronger, and we have better ways to predict the weather. This helps to keep sailors and ships safer when they cross the Bay of Biscay.
Rivers Flowing into the Bay
Many rivers from France and Spain flow into the Bay of Biscay. These rivers carry fresh water from the land into the ocean.
Rivers in France
From north to south, the main French rivers are:
Rivers in Spain
From east to west, the main Spanish rivers are:
- Bidasoa
- Oiartzun
- Urumea
- Oria
- Urola
- Deba
- Artibai
- Oka
- Nervión
- Agüera
- Asón
- Miera
- Pas
- Saja
- Nansa
- Deva
- Sella
- Nalón
- Navia
- Esva
- Eo
- Landro
- Sor
Major Cities on the Coast
Several important cities are located along the shores of the Bay of Biscay.
Cities in France
Cities in Spain
Amazing Wildlife
The Bay of Biscay is a fantastic place to spot marine animals! Many different kinds of whales and dolphins live here.
It's one of the few spots in the world where you can often see special whales called beaked whales, like the Cuvier's beaked whale. Scientists study these whales a lot in this area. The best places to see these larger sea creatures are in the very deep parts of the bay, far from the coast.
Images for kids
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Biarritz Beach (French Basque Country)
See also
In Spanish: Golfo de Vizcaya para niños
