Misplaced Pages

Bay of Biscay: Difference between revisions

Article snapshot taken from Wikipedia with creative commons attribution-sharealike license. Give it a read and then ask your questions in the chat. We can research this topic together.
Browse history interactively← Previous editContent deleted Content addedVisualWikitext
Revision as of 19:54, 22 February 2015 editIñaki LL (talk | contribs)Extended confirmed users11,819 edits Name: Disambiguation← Previous edit Latest revision as of 00:36, 17 December 2024 edit undoOmnipaedista (talk | contribs)Autopatrolled, Extended confirmed users, Pending changes reviewers241,792 editsNo edit summary 
(240 intermediate revisions by more than 100 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{Short description|Gulf of the northeast Atlantic Ocean located south of the Celtic Sea}}
{{Distinguish2|] or ]}}
{{distinguish|text=] in Canada or ] in the United States}}
]
{{about||the bay in Auckland, New Zealand|French Bay / Otitori Bay|the soil type|Bay of Biscay soil}}
{{Infobox body of water
| name = Bay of Biscay
| image = Praia de Bares 4IX2015.jpg
| alt =
| caption = Spanish coastline
| image_map = Bay of Biscay map.svg
| caption_map = Map of the Bay of Biscay
| image_bathymetry = Celtic Sea and Bay of Biscay bathymetric map-en.svg
| alt_bathymetry =
| caption_bathymetry = Bathymetric map of the Bay of Biscay
| location = ] and ]
| group =
| coordinates = {{Coord|45|30|N|04|24|W|type:waterbody_scale:5000000|display=inline,title}}
| type = ]
| etymology =
| part_of =
| inflow =
| rivers =
| outflow =
| oceans = ]
| catchment = <!-- {{cvt|VALUE|UNITS}} must be used -->
| basin_countries = ] and ]
| length = {{cvt|593.7|km}}
| width = {{cvt|511.1|km}}
| area = {{cvt|223,000|km2}}
| depth = {{cvt|1,744|m}}
| max-depth = {{cvt|4,735|m}}
| volume = {{cvt|389,000|km3}}
| residence_time =
| salinity = 35 g/L
| shore = <!-- {{cvt|VALUE|UNITS}} must be used -->
| elevation = <!-- {{cvt|VALUE|UNITS}} must be used -->
| temperature_high = <!-- {{cvt|VALUE|UNITS}} must be used -->
| temperature_low = <!-- {{cvt|VALUE|UNITS}} must be used -->
| frozen =
| islands =
| islands_category =
| sections =
| trenches =
| benches =
| cities =
| pushpin_map =
| pushpin_label_position =
| pushpin_map_alt =
| pushpin_map_caption =
| website =
}}


The '''Bay of Biscay''' {{IPAc-en|ˈ|b|ɪ|s|k|eɪ|,_|-|k|i}} ({{lang-es|Golfo de Vizcaya}}, {{lang-fr|Golfe de Gascogne}}) is a ] of the northeast ] located south of the ]. It lies along the western coast of ] from ] south to the ] border, and the northern coast of Spain west to ]. The '''Bay of Biscay''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|b|ɪ|s|k|eɪ|,_|-|k|i}} {{respell|BISS|kay|,_-|kee}}) is a ] of the northeast ] located south of the ]. It lies along the western coast of ] from ] to the ] border, and along the northern coast of Spain, extending westward to ].


The average depth is {{convert|1744|m|ft}} and the greatest depth is {{convert|4735|m|ft}}.<ref>{{cite web|title=Bay of Biscay|url=http://www.eoearth.org/view/article/150448/}}</ref> The average depth is {{cvt|1744|m|ft}} and the greatest depth is {{cvt|4735|m|ft}}.<ref>{{cite web |title=Bay of Biscay |url=http://www.eoearth.org/view/article/150448/ |publisher=Eoearth.org |access-date=2015-07-17 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150720203133/https://www.eoearth.org/view/article/150448/ |archive-date=2015-07-20}}</ref>


==Name== ==Name==
The Bay of Biscay is named (for English speakers) after Biscay on the northern Spanish coast, probably standing for the ] (''Biscay'' up to the early 19th century). Its name in other languages is: The Bay of Biscay is known in Spain as the Gulf of Biscay ({{langx|es|Golfo de Vizcaya}}; {{langx|eu|Bizkaiko Golkoa}}). In France, it is called the Gulf of ] ({{langx|fr|Golfe de Gascogne}} {{IPA|fr|ɡɔl.f(ə) də ɡas.kɔɲ|}}; {{langx|oc|Golf de Gasconha}}; {{langx|br|Pleg-mor Gwaskogn}}). In ], the bay was known as {{lang|la|Sinus Cantabrorum}} (] Gulf); the name ] is still used locally for the southern area of the Bay of Biscay that washes over the northern coast of Spain (]). The English name comes from ] on the northern Spanish coast, probably standing for the ] (''Biscay'' up to the early 19th century).
* {{lang-eu|Bizkaiko golkoa}}
* {{lang-es|Golfo de Vizcaya}}; also {{lang|es|''Mar Cantábrico''}} for the ocean area closer to the Spanish coast, the "]"
* {{lang-fr|Golfe de Gascogne}} (named after ], France)
* {{lang-br|Pleg-mor Gwaskogn}}
* ]: ''Golf de Gasconha''


==Geography== ==Geography==
] ]
]
] along the Bay of Biscay (photograph by ])]]
] Beach (])]] ] Beach (])]]


Parts of the ] extend far into the bay, resulting in fairly shallow waters in many areas and thus the rough seas for which the region is known. The Bay of Biscay is home to some of the ]'s fiercest ]. Large storms occur in the bay, especially during the winter months. Up until recent years it was a regular occurrence for merchant vessels to founder in Biscay storms. Parts of the ] extend far into the bay, resulting in fairly shallow waters in many areas and thus the rough seas for which the region is known. Heavy storms occur in the bay, especially during the winter months. The Bay of Biscay is home to some of the ]'s fiercest ]; abnormally high waves occur there.<ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=y0ErAAAAYAAJ&q=%22bay%20of%20biscay%22%20%22gulf%20stream%22&pg=PA7 |quote=The Gulf Stream off Cape Hatteras, the Gulf of Alaska, the English Channel, and the Bay of Biscay are some of the other areas where storms and current combine to produce abnormally high, steep waves. |title=A Summary of Wave Data Needs and Availability: A Report |year=1979 |page=7 |access-date=2021-01-05 |archive-date=2023-04-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230406052513/https://books.google.com/books?id=y0ErAAAAYAAJ&q=%22bay%20of%20biscay%22%20%22gulf%20stream%22&pg=PA7 |url-status=live }}</ref> Up until recent years it was a regular occurrence for merchant vessels to founder in Biscay storms.


===Extent=== ===Extent===
The ] defines the limits of the Bay of Biscay as "a line joining Cap ] ({{Coord|43|46|N|7|52|W|display=inline}}) to ] ({{Coord|47|48|N|4|22|W|display=inline}})".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.iho-ohi.net/iho_pubs/standard/S-23/S23_1953.pdf|title=Limits of Oceans and Seas, 3rd edition + corrections|year=1971|publisher=International Hydrographic Organization|accessdate=6 February 2010|page=42 }}</ref> The ] defines the limits of the Bay of Biscay as "a line joining ] ({{Coord|43|46|N|7|52|W|display=inline}}) to ] ({{Coord|47|48|N|4|22|W|display=inline}})".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://iho.int/uploads/user/pubs/standards/s-23/S-23_Ed3_1953_EN.pdf |title=Limits of Oceans and Seas, 3rd edition + corrections |year=1971 |publisher=International Hydrographic Organization |access-date=28 December 2020 |page=42 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111008191433/http://www.iho.int/iho_pubs/standard/S-23/S-23_Ed3_1953_EN.pdf |archive-date=8 October 2011}}</ref>

The southernmost portion is the ].<ref name="miteco3">{{cite web |url=https://www.miteco.gob.es/es/costas/temas/proteccion-medio-marino/I_Marco%20General_Noratlantica_tcm30-130860.pdf |title=Estrategia marina. Demarcación marina Noratlántica. Parte I. Marco general evaluación inicial y buen estado ambiental. |access-date=22 January 2021 |author=VVAA |date=2012 |language=spanish |archive-date=27 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201127165749/https://www.miteco.gob.es/es/costas/temas/proteccion-medio-marino/I_Marco%20General_Noratlantica_tcm30-130860.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>


===Rivers=== ===Rivers===
The main rivers that empty into the Bay of Biscay are ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ] and ]. The main rivers that empty into the Bay of Biscay are ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ] and ].


===Climate=== ===Climate===
The phenomenon of ] is common. In late spring and early summer a large fog triangle fills the southwestern half of the bay, covering just a few kilometres inland. In late spring and early summer, a large fog triangle fills the southwestern half of the bay, covering just a few kilometres inland.


As winter begins, weather becomes severe. Depressions enter from the west very frequently and they either bounce north to the ] or they enter the ], dry out, and are finally reborn in the form of powerful thunderstorms as they reach the ]. These depressions cause severe weather at sea and bring light though very constant rain to its shores (known as '']'', ''sirimiri'', ''morrina'', ''orbayu'' and ''orpin'' (in Asturias) or ''calabobos'' in northern Spain). Sometimes powerful windstorms form if the pressure falls rapidly, traveling along the ] at great speed, resembling a hurricane, and finally crashing in this bay with their maximum power, such as the ].{{citation needed|date=July 2013}} As winter begins, weather becomes severe. Depressions enter from the west very frequently, and either they bounce north to the ] or they enter the ], dry out, and are finally reborn in the form of powerful thunderstorms as they reach the ]. These depressions cause severe weather at sea and bring light but very constant rain to its shores (known as '']'', ''sirimiri'', ''morrina'', ''orbayu'', ''orpin'' or ''calabobos''). Sometimes powerful windstorms form if the pressure falls rapidly (]), traveling along the ] at great speed, resembling a hurricane, and finally crashing in this bay with their maximum power, such as the ].<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.marineinsight.com/life-at-sea/why-the-bay-of-biscay-is-dangerous-for-ships/ |title=Why the Bay of Biscay is Dangerous for Ships? |date=2011-10-21 |website=Marine Insight |language=en-US |access-date=2019-05-07 |archive-date=2019-05-07 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190507171109/https://www.marineinsight.com/life-at-sea/why-the-bay-of-biscay-is-dangerous-for-ships/ |url-status=live }}</ref>


The ] enters the bay following the continental shelf's border anti-clockwise (the Rennell Current), keeping temperatures moderate all year long. The ] enters the bay following the continental shelf's border anti-clockwise (the ]), keeping temperatures moderate all year long.


===Main cities=== ===Main cities===


The main cities on the shores of the Bay of Biscay are ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ] and ]. The main cities on the shores (or close to) of the Bay of Biscay are ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ] and ].


==History== ==History==
The southern end of the gulf is also called in Spanish ''"Mar Cantábrico"'' ('''Cantabrian Sea'''), from the ], as far as the mouth of ] river, but this name is not generally used in English. It was named by Romans in the 1st century BC as ''Sinus Cantabrorum'' (Bay of the ]) and more frequently, ''Mare Gallaecum'' (the Sea of the ]). On some medieval maps, the Bay of Biscay is marked as ''El Mar del los Vascos'' (the Basque Sea).<ref>{{cite web|title=El mar de los vascos, II: del Golfo de Vizcaya al Mediterráneo|url=http://www.euskomedia.org/PDFAnlt/jgl/07001110.pdf}}</ref> The southern end of the gulf is also called ''"Mar Cantábrico" in Spanish'' (]), from the ], as far as the mouth of ] river, but this name is not generally used in English. It was named by Romans in the 1st century BC as ''Sinus Cantabrorum'' (Bay of the ]) and also, ''Mare Gallaecum'' (the Sea of the ]). On some medieval maps, the Bay of Biscay is marked as ''El Mar del los Vascos'' (the Basque Sea).<ref>{{cite web |title=El mar de los vascos, II: del Golfo de Vizcaya al Mediterráneo |url=http://www.euskomedia.org/PDFAnlt/jgl/07001110.pdf |publisher=Euskomedia.org |access-date=2015-07-17 |archive-date=2018-07-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180729062320/http://www.euskomedia.org/PDFAnlt/jgl/07001110.pdf |url-status=dead}}</ref>


The Bay of Biscay has been the site of many famous naval engagements over the centuries. In 1592 the Spanish defeated an English fleet during the eponymous ]. The ] consisted of a series of manoeuvres and two battles fought between the British ] and the French Atlantic Fleet off the southern coast of ] during the second year of the ]. The ] sunk here after striking a ] on June 22, 1918.<ref>{{cite web|title=USS Californian (1918-1918)|url=http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/sh-usn/usnsh-c/califrnn.htm}}</ref> On December 28, 1943, the ] was fought between ] and ] and a group of German destroyers as part of ] during ]. The Bay of Biscay has been the site of many famous naval engagements over the centuries. In 1592 the Spanish defeated an English fleet during the ]. The ] consisted of a series of manoeuvres and two battles fought between the British ] and the French Atlantic Fleet off the southern coast of ] during the second year of the ]. The {{USS|Californian|1900|6}} sank here after striking a ] on 22 June 1918.<ref>{{cite web |title=USS Californian (1918–1918) |url=http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/sh-usn/usnsh-c/califrnn.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041224191412/http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/sh-usn/usnsh-c/califrnn.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=2004-12-24 |publisher=History.navy.mil |access-date=2015-07-17}}</ref> In 1920 the {{SS|Afrique|1907|6}} sank after losing power and drifting into a reef in a storm with the loss of 575 lives. On 28 December 1943, the ] was fought between {{HMS|Glasgow|C21|6}} and {{HMS|Enterprise|D52|6}}, and a group of German destroyers as part of ] during ]. The area became known as the "Valley of Death" by ] crews following a series of repeated losses from ] attacks on U-boats from 1943 until the end of the war.<ref>{{cite web |title=The Bay of Biscay |url=https://uboat.net/maps/biscay.htm |website=uboat.net |access-date=2024-07-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240706171100/https://uboat.net/maps/biscay.htm |archive-date=2024-07-06 |url-status=live}}</ref> The {{GS|U-667||2}} sank on 25 August 1944 in position {{coord|46|00|N|01|30|W}}, when she struck a mine. All hands were lost.

On 12 April 1970, {{ship|Soviet submarine|K-8}} sank in the Bay of Biscay due to a fire that crippled the submarine's nuclear reactors. An attempt to save the sub failed, resulting in the death of forty sailors and the loss of four nuclear torpedoes. Due to the great depth ({{cvt|15,000|ft|m|disp=or}}), no salvage operation was attempted.{{Citation needed|date=July 2021}}


==Wildlife== ==Wildlife==
]'' (Biscay)('']'')]]


=== Plaiaundi Ecology Park ===
===Marine mammals===
The ] is a 24 -hectare coastal wetland lying where the ] meets the sea in the Bay of Biscay.The nature of ] consists of a wide variety of ] (visitors view them mainly in the spring) and ] (visitors with binoculars arrive all during the year, because of the birds' migratory habits). This nature park contains a variety of ]s, ]s, ]s and ]s.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2013-02-22 |title=Plaiaundi Ecology Park {{!}} Plans to know the Basque Country {{!}} Tourism E… |url=http://tourism.euskadi.net/en/plans-to-know-the-basque-country/plaiaundi-ecology-park/x65-12375/en |access-date=2021-07-24 |website=archive.is |archive-date=2013-02-22 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130222052140/http://tourism.euskadi.net/en/plans-to-know-the-basque-country/plaiaundi-ecology-park/x65-12375/en |url-status=live}}</ref>
The car ferries from ] to ]/], ] to ] and from ], ] and ] to ] provide one of the most convenient ways to see ]s in ]an waters. Often specialist groups take the ferries to hear more information.


===Marine mammals===
Volunteers and employees of Biscay Dolphin Research regularly observe and monitor cetacean activity from the ] of the ships on the ] Portsmouth to Bilbao route. Many species of ]s and ]s can be seen in this area. Most importantly, it is one of the few places where the ]s, such as the ], have been observed relatively frequently. This is the best study area in the world for beaked whales.
{{See also|Whale watching}}
The car ferries from ] to ]/], ] to ] and from ], ] and ] to ] provide one of the most convenient ways to see ]s in European waters. Often specialist groups take the ferries to collect more information. Volunteers and employees of ORCA regularly observe and monitor cetacean activity from the ] of the ships on ]' Portsmouth to Santander route. Many species of ]s and ]s can be seen in this area. Most importantly, it is one of the few places in the world where the ]s, such as the ], have been observed relatively frequently. Biscay Dolphin Research monitored cetacean activity from the ] cruise ferry '']'', on voyages from Portsmouth to Bilbao.


]s, one of the most endangered whales, once came to the bay for feeding and probably for calving as well, but whaling activities by ] and others almost wiped them out sometime prior to 1850s. In modern days, the eastern population of this species are considered to be almost extinct, and there has been no record of right whales in the Bay of Biscay except for possible few sightings made in modern time, a pair which was possibly a mother-calf pair in 1977 at {{coord|43|00|N|10|30|W}},<ref>{{cite journal|author=Reeves, R.R. and Mitchell, E.|year=1986|title=American pelagic whaling for right whales in the North Atlantic|journal=Report of the International Whaling Commission|issue=Special Issue 10|pages=221–254|url=http://iwc.int/cache/downloads/brhgc3aemagcsoos0kocgcggc/RIWC-SI10-pp221-254.pdf|format=PDF|accessdate=2013-10-09}}</ref> and another pair in earlier June 1980 seen by merchantmen. Other records in the late 20th century include one off ] at {{coord|43|00|N|10|30|W}} in September 1977 reported by a whaling company and another one seen off the Iberian Peninsula. ]s, one of the most endangered species of whales, once came to the bay for feeding and probably for calving as well, but ] almost wiped them out sometime prior to the 1850s. The eastern population of this species are considered to be almost extinct, and there has been no record of right whales in the Bay of Biscay except for a pair in 1977 (possibly a mother and calf) at {{coord|43|00|N|10|30|W}},<ref>{{cite journal |author1=Reeves, R.R. |author2=Mitchell, E. |name-list-style=amp |year=1986 |title=American pelagic whaling for right whales in the North Atlantic |journal=Report of the International Whaling Commission |issue=Special Issue 10 |pages=221–254 |url=http://iwc.int/cache/downloads/brhgc3aemagcsoos0kocgcggc/RIWC-SI10-pp221-254.pdf |access-date=2013-10-09}}{{dead link|date=October 2016 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> and another pair in June 1980. Other records in the late 20th century include one off ] at {{coord|43|00|N|10|30|W}} in September 1977 reported by a whaling company and another one seen off the Iberian Peninsula.


The best areas to see the larger cetaceans lie in the deep waters beyond the continental shelf, particularly over the Santander Canyon and Torrelavega Canyon in the south of the Bay. The best areas to see the larger cetaceans are in the deep waters beyond the ], particularly over the ] and ] in the south of the Bay.

The three-day round trip also gives sightings of good numbers of several species of ]s, particularly ]s.


The alga '']'' was introduced and first noticed in 1906 by oyster fishermen in the Bay of Biscay. The alga '']'' was introduced and first noticed in 1906 by oyster fishermen in the Bay of Biscay.


The '']'' commonly known as the scaleless dragonfish are native to these waters.<ref>http://www.fishbase.us/summary/Grammatostomias-flagellibarba.html</ref> '']'' (scaleless dragonfish) are native to these waters.<ref>{{cite journal |url=http://www.fishbase.us/summary/Grammatostomias-flagellibarba.html |editor=Froese, R. |editor2=D. Pauly |journal=FishBase |year=2016 |title=Grammatostomias flagellibarba |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150825214445/http://www.fishbase.us/summary/Grammatostomias-flagellibarba.html |archive-date=2015-08-25}}</ref>


==See also== ==See also==
*]
* ] *]
* ]
* ] *]
*]
* ]


==References== ==References==
{{Reflist}} {{Reflist|30em}}


==External links== ==External links==
{{Commons}}
* {{Cite NSRW|short=x|wstitle=Biscay, Bay of}} *{{Cite NSRW |short=x |wstitle=Biscay, Bay of}}


{{List of seas}} {{List of seas}}
{{Marginal seas of the Atlantic Ocean}}

{{Authority control}}
{{Coord|45|30|N|04|20|W|type:waterbody_scale:5000000|display=title}}


] ]
] ]
] ]
] ]
]
]
] ]
]
]
]
]
]
]
] ]
]

Latest revision as of 00:36, 17 December 2024

Gulf of the northeast Atlantic Ocean located south of the Celtic Sea Not to be confused with Biscay Bay in Canada or Biscayne Bay in the United States. For the bay in Auckland, New Zealand, see French Bay / Otitori Bay. For the soil type, see Bay of Biscay soil.
Bay of Biscay
Spanish coastline
Map of the Bay of Biscay
Bathymetric map of the Bay of Biscay
LocationWestern Europe and Southern Europe
Coordinates45°30′N 04°24′W / 45.500°N 4.400°W / 45.500; -4.400
TypeGulf
Ocean/sea sourcesAtlantic Ocean
Basin countriesFrance and Spain
Max. length593.7 km (368.9 mi)
Max. width511.1 km (317.6 mi)
Surface area223,000 km (86,000 sq mi)
Average depth1,744 m (5,722 ft)
Max. depth4,735 m (15,535 ft)
Water volume389,000 km (93,000 cu mi)
Salinity35 g/L

The Bay of Biscay (/ˈbɪskeɪ, -ki/ BISS-kay, -⁠kee) is a gulf of the northeast Atlantic Ocean located south of the Celtic Sea. It lies along the western coast of France from Point Penmarc'h to the Spanish border, and along the northern coast of Spain, extending westward to Cape Ortegal.

The average depth is 1,744 m (5,722 ft) and the greatest depth is 4,735 m (15,535 ft).

Name

The Bay of Biscay is known in Spain as the Gulf of Biscay (Spanish: Golfo de Vizcaya; Basque: Bizkaiko Golkoa). In France, it is called the Gulf of Gascony (French: Golfe de Gascogne [ɡɔl.f(ə) də ɡas.kɔɲ]; Occitan: Golf de Gasconha; Breton: Pleg-mor Gwaskogn). In Latin, the bay was known as Sinus Cantabrorum (Cantabrian Gulf); the name Cantabrian Sea is still used locally for the southern area of the Bay of Biscay that washes over the northern coast of Spain (Cantabria). The English name comes from Biscay on the northern Spanish coast, probably standing for the western Basque districts (Biscay up to the early 19th century).

Geography

Basque coast along the Bay of Biscay
Biarritz Beach (French Basque Country)

Parts of the continental shelf extend far into the bay, resulting in fairly shallow waters in many areas and thus the rough seas for which the region is known. Heavy storms occur in the bay, especially during the winter months. The Bay of Biscay is home to some of the Atlantic Ocean's fiercest weather; abnormally high waves occur there. Up until recent years it was a regular occurrence for merchant vessels to founder in Biscay storms.

Extent

The International Hydrographic Organization defines the limits of the Bay of Biscay as "a line joining Cap Ortegal (43°46′N 7°52′W / 43.767°N 7.867°W / 43.767; -7.867) to Penmarch Point (47°48′N 4°22′W / 47.800°N 4.367°W / 47.800; -4.367)".

The southernmost portion is the Cantabrian Sea.

Rivers

The main rivers that empty into the Bay of Biscay are Loire, Charente, Garonne, Dordogne, Adour, Nivelle, Bidasoa, Oiartzun, Urumea, Oria, Urola, Deba, Artibai, Lea, Oka, Nervión, Agüera, Asón, Miera, Pas, Saja, Nansa, Deva, Sella, Nalón, Navia, Esva, Eo, Landro and Sor.

Climate

In late spring and early summer, a large fog triangle fills the southwestern half of the bay, covering just a few kilometres inland.

As winter begins, weather becomes severe. Depressions enter from the west very frequently, and either they bounce north to the British Isles or they enter the Ebro Valley, dry out, and are finally reborn in the form of powerful thunderstorms as they reach the Mediterranean Sea. These depressions cause severe weather at sea and bring light but very constant rain to its shores (known as orballo, sirimiri, morrina, orbayu, orpin or calabobos). Sometimes powerful windstorms form if the pressure falls rapidly (galerna), traveling along the Gulf Stream at great speed, resembling a hurricane, and finally crashing in this bay with their maximum power, such as the Klaus storm.

The Gulf Stream enters the bay following the continental shelf's border anti-clockwise (the Rennell Current), keeping temperatures moderate all year long.

Main cities

The main cities on the shores (or close to) of the Bay of Biscay are Bordeaux, Bayonne, Biarritz, Nantes, La Rochelle, Donostia-San Sebastián, Bilbao, Santander, Gijón and Avilés.

History

The southern end of the gulf is also called "Mar Cantábrico" in Spanish (Cantabrian Sea), from the Estaca de Bares, as far as the mouth of Adour river, but this name is not generally used in English. It was named by Romans in the 1st century BC as Sinus Cantabrorum (Bay of the Cantabri) and also, Mare Gallaecum (the Sea of the Galicians). On some medieval maps, the Bay of Biscay is marked as El Mar del los Vascos (the Basque Sea).

The Bay of Biscay has been the site of many famous naval engagements over the centuries. In 1592 the Spanish defeated an English fleet during the Battle of the Bay of Biscay. The Biscay campaign of June 1795 consisted of a series of manoeuvres and two battles fought between the British Channel Fleet and the French Atlantic Fleet off the southern coast of Brittany during the second year of the French Revolutionary Wars. The USS Californian sank here after striking a naval mine on 22 June 1918. In 1920 the SS Afrique sank after losing power and drifting into a reef in a storm with the loss of 575 lives. On 28 December 1943, the Battle of the Bay of Biscay was fought between HMS Glasgow and HMS Enterprise, and a group of German destroyers as part of Operation Stonewall during World War II. The area became known as the "Valley of Death" by U-boat crews following a series of repeated losses from RAF attacks on U-boats from 1943 until the end of the war. The U-667 sank on 25 August 1944 in position 46°00′N 01°30′W / 46.000°N 1.500°W / 46.000; -1.500, when she struck a mine. All hands were lost.

On 12 April 1970, Soviet submarine K-8 sank in the Bay of Biscay due to a fire that crippled the submarine's nuclear reactors. An attempt to save the sub failed, resulting in the death of forty sailors and the loss of four nuclear torpedoes. Due to the great depth (15,000 ft or 4,600 m), no salvage operation was attempted.

Wildlife

Plaiaundi Ecology Park

The Plaiaundi Ecology Park is a 24 -hectare coastal wetland lying where the Bidasoa River meets the sea in the Bay of Biscay.The nature of Plaiaundi consists of a wide variety of flora (visitors view them mainly in the spring) and fauna (visitors with binoculars arrive all during the year, because of the birds' migratory habits). This nature park contains a variety of birds, reptiles, mammals and insects.

Marine mammals

See also: Whale watching

The car ferries from Gijón to Nantes/Saint-Nazaire, Portsmouth to Bilbao and from Plymouth, Portsmouth and Poole to Santander provide one of the most convenient ways to see cetaceans in European waters. Often specialist groups take the ferries to collect more information. Volunteers and employees of ORCA regularly observe and monitor cetacean activity from the bridge of the ships on Brittany Ferries' Portsmouth to Santander route. Many species of whales and dolphins can be seen in this area. Most importantly, it is one of the few places in the world where the beaked whales, such as the Cuvier's beaked whale, have been observed relatively frequently. Biscay Dolphin Research monitored cetacean activity from the P&O Ferries cruise ferry Pride of Bilbao, on voyages from Portsmouth to Bilbao.

North Atlantic right whales, one of the most endangered species of whales, once came to the bay for feeding and probably for calving as well, but whaling activities by Basque people almost wiped them out sometime prior to the 1850s. The eastern population of this species are considered to be almost extinct, and there has been no record of right whales in the Bay of Biscay except for a pair in 1977 (possibly a mother and calf) at 43°00′N 10°30′W / 43.000°N 10.500°W / 43.000; -10.500, and another pair in June 1980. Other records in the late 20th century include one off Galicia at 43°00′N 10°30′W / 43.000°N 10.500°W / 43.000; -10.500 in September 1977 reported by a whaling company and another one seen off the Iberian Peninsula.

The best areas to see the larger cetaceans are in the deep waters beyond the continental shelf, particularly over the Santander Canyon and Torrelavega Canyon in the south of the Bay.

The alga Colpomenia peregrina was introduced and first noticed in 1906 by oyster fishermen in the Bay of Biscay.

Grammatostomias flagellibarba (scaleless dragonfish) are native to these waters.

See also

References

  1. "Bay of Biscay". Eoearth.org. Archived from the original on 2015-07-20. Retrieved 2015-07-17.
  2. A Summary of Wave Data Needs and Availability: A Report. 1979. p. 7. Archived from the original on 2023-04-06. Retrieved 2021-01-05. The Gulf Stream off Cape Hatteras, the Gulf of Alaska, the English Channel, and the Bay of Biscay are some of the other areas where storms and current combine to produce abnormally high, steep waves.
  3. "Limits of Oceans and Seas, 3rd edition + corrections" (PDF). International Hydrographic Organization. 1971. p. 42 . Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 October 2011. Retrieved 28 December 2020.
  4. VVAA (2012). "Estrategia marina. Demarcación marina Noratlántica. Parte I. Marco general evaluación inicial y buen estado ambiental" (PDF) (in Spanish). Archived (PDF) from the original on 27 November 2020. Retrieved 22 January 2021.
  5. "Why the Bay of Biscay is Dangerous for Ships?". Marine Insight. 2011-10-21. Archived from the original on 2019-05-07. Retrieved 2019-05-07.
  6. "El mar de los vascos, II: del Golfo de Vizcaya al Mediterráneo" (PDF). Euskomedia.org. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2018-07-29. Retrieved 2015-07-17.
  7. "USS Californian (1918–1918)". History.navy.mil. Archived from the original on 2004-12-24. Retrieved 2015-07-17.
  8. "The Bay of Biscay". uboat.net. Archived from the original on 2024-07-06. Retrieved 2024-07-06.
  9. "Plaiaundi Ecology Park | Plans to know the Basque Country | Tourism E…". archive.is. 2013-02-22. Archived from the original on 2013-02-22. Retrieved 2021-07-24.
  10. Reeves, R.R. & Mitchell, E. (1986). "American pelagic whaling for right whales in the North Atlantic" (PDF). Report of the International Whaling Commission (Special Issue 10): 221–254. Retrieved 2013-10-09.
  11. Froese, R.; D. Pauly, eds. (2016). "Grammatostomias flagellibarba". FishBase. Archived from the original on 2015-08-25.

External links

Earth's oceans and seas
Antarctic/Southern Ocean
Arctic Ocean
Atlantic Ocean
Indian Ocean
Pacific Ocean
Endorheic basins
Others
Marginal seas of the Atlantic Ocean
Basins
Bays
Channels
Gulfs
Seas
icon Oceans portal
Categories: