Dax, Landes facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Dax
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Subprefecture and commune
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La Fontaine Chaude
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 Dax
Location in France
Dax
Location in Nouvelle-Aquitaine
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| Country | France | |
| Region | Nouvelle-Aquitaine | |
| Department | Landes | |
| Arrondissement | Dax | |
| Canton | Dax-1 and 2 | |
| Intercommunality | CA Grand Dax | |
| Area
1
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19.70 km2 (7.61 sq mi) | |
| Population
(2021)
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21,347 | |
| • Density | 1,083.60/km2 (2,806.5/sq mi) | |
| Time zone | UTC+01:00 (CET) | |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+02:00 (CEST) | |
| INSEE/Postal code |
40088 /40100
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| Elevation | 2–46 m (6.6–150.9 ft) (avg. 9 m or 30 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. | ||
Dax is a lively town in southwestern France. It is located in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region. Dax is also a sub-prefecture of the Landes department. This means it's an important administrative center.
The town is famous for its spas. People visit Dax for special mud treatments. These treatments help with conditions like rheumatism. Dax is also well-known for its bullfighting events. The August ferias (festivals) are very popular. About 800,000 people attend these five-day events. Dax is also a busy market town. It's a key center for the Chalosse area.
Contents
Geography of Dax
Dax is located on the Adour river. It is about 30 kilometers (18.6 miles) from the Atlantic Ocean. The town is also 42 kilometers (26 miles) northwest of Bayonne.
Dax has good train connections. You can travel by rail to major cities. These include Paris, Bordeaux, and Bayonne.
History of Dax
Dax was first built by the Romans. Its reputation as a spa town began long ago. Some say it started with a visit from Julia. She was the daughter of the first Roman Emperor, Augustus. The Roman name for Dax was Civitas Aquensium.
During the Middle Ages, viscounts ruled Dax. In 1152, Henry II Plantagenet took control. He later became King of England. Dax remained under English rule for many years. This lasted until 1451. French troops then took the town back. This happened near the end of the Hundred Years' War. Dax successfully defended itself from a Spanish attack in 1521-1522.
Population Growth
The number of people living in Dax has changed over time. Like many towns, its population has grown and shrunk.
| Historical population | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Source: EHESS and INSEE (1968-2017) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Climate in Dax
Dax has a mild climate. It gets a good amount of sunshine each year. The town also receives a fair amount of rain. Summers are warm, and winters are generally mild.
| Climate data for Dax, Landes (1981–2010 averages, extremes 1958–present) | |||||||||||||
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| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 24.0 (75.2) |
27.2 (81.0) |
29.9 (85.8) |
32.7 (90.9) |
36.2 (97.2) |
40.3 (104.5) |
40.8 (105.4) |
41.1 (106.0) |
39.0 (102.2) |
34.7 (94.5) |
28.1 (82.6) |
23.9 (75.0) |
41.1 (106.0) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 11.4 (52.5) |
13.1 (55.6) |
16.4 (61.5) |
18.1 (64.6) |
21.7 (71.1) |
24.7 (76.5) |
27.0 (80.6) |
27.2 (81.0) |
25.0 (77.0) |
20.6 (69.1) |
14.8 (58.6) |
11.6 (52.9) |
19.3 (66.7) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | 7.2 (45.0) |
8.2 (46.8) |
11.0 (51.8) |
12.8 (55.0) |
16.4 (61.5) |
19.5 (67.1) |
21.5 (70.7) |
21.7 (71.1) |
19.1 (66.4) |
15.5 (59.9) |
10.5 (50.9) |
7.6 (45.7) |
14.3 (57.7) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 3.0 (37.4) |
3.3 (37.9) |
5.5 (41.9) |
7.5 (45.5) |
11.1 (52.0) |
14.2 (57.6) |
16.1 (61.0) |
16.1 (61.0) |
13.3 (55.9) |
10.4 (50.7) |
6.1 (43.0) |
3.7 (38.7) |
9.2 (48.6) |
| Record low °C (°F) | −16.2 (2.8) |
−9.5 (14.9) |
−8.3 (17.1) |
−1.8 (28.8) |
0.3 (32.5) |
3.8 (38.8) |
3.4 (38.1) |
6.8 (44.2) |
2.2 (36.0) |
−1.7 (28.9) |
−7.2 (19.0) |
−10.2 (13.6) |
−16.2 (2.8) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 106.3 (4.19) |
95.8 (3.77) |
82.8 (3.26) |
107.5 (4.23) |
90.2 (3.55) |
69.8 (2.75) |
57.9 (2.28) |
70.3 (2.77) |
89.6 (3.53) |
117.0 (4.61) |
145.7 (5.74) |
118.4 (4.66) |
1,151.3 (45.33) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 1.0 mm) | 12.4 | 10.4 | 10.8 | 12.9 | 12.1 | 8.5 | 7.6 | 8.8 | 8.7 | 11.4 | 12.6 | 12.1 | 128.4 |
| Average relative humidity (%) | 87 | 82 | 78 | 79 | 79 | 79 | 78 | 81 | 82 | 87 | 88 | 89 | 82.4 |
| Mean monthly sunshine hours | 95.1 | 108.2 | 166.0 | 171.2 | 196.7 | 206.6 | 219.7 | 212.7 | 190.2 | 142.2 | 93.5 | 80.2 | 1,882.4 |
| Source 1: Météo France | |||||||||||||
| Source 2: Infoclimat.fr (humidity, 1961–1990) | |||||||||||||
Places to See
Dax has many interesting historical sites. You can explore its past and present.
- Roman archaeological crypt: This underground area shows old Roman foundations. It includes parts of a Roman temple from the 2nd century AD.
- Gallic-Roman walls: You can still see parts of the ancient walls. These walls were built in the 4th century.
- Cathedral of Notre-Dame Ste-Marie: This is a beautiful old church.
- Church of Saint-Vincent-de-Xaintes: Another historic church in Dax.
- Fontaine Chaude ("Hot Fountain"): This famous hot spring is a symbol of Dax.
- Château de Dax: This was once a castle. Today, the Hôtel Splendid stands on its site.
Sports in Dax
Dax is well-known for its rugby team. The US Dax rugby club started in 1904. It is a very important team in French rugby history. Many famous French rugby players come from Dax. Some examples are Pierre Albaladejo, Raphaël Ibanez, and Richard Dourthe.
Twin Towns
Dax has a special friendship with another town. This is called a twin town relationship.
- Logroño, Spain
Famous People from Dax
Many notable people have connections to Dax. Here are a few:
- Maurice Boyau: A brave pilot from the First World War.
- Jean-Charles de Borda: A famous mathematician.
- Vincent de Paul: A well-known theologian. He was born near Dax.
- Roger Ducos: A politician born in Dax.
- Patrick Edlinger: A famous rock climber.
- Raphaël Ibañez: A well-known rugby player.
- Christophe Lamaison: Another famous rugby player.
See also
In Spanish: Dax para niños
