Editing Gironde estuary

{{Short description|Largest estuary in Western Europe}}
{{About|the estuary|the department|Gironde|other uses|Gironde (disambiguation)}}
{{Infobox river
| name               = Gironde
| native_name        = 
| native_name_lang   = 
| name_other         = 
| name_etymology     = 
<!---------------------- IMAGE & MAP -->
| image              = Roselière de Pauillac et carrelets sur l'estuaire de la Gironde, France.jpg
| image_size         = 300px
| image_caption      = The Gironde estuary in [[Pauillac]]
| map                = PointedeGraveSituation.png
| map_size           = 
| map_caption        = Map of France with the Gironde highlighted
| pushpin_map        = 
| pushpin_map_size   = 
| pushpin_map_caption= 
<!---------------------- LOCATION -->
| subdivision_type1  = Country
| subdivision_name1  = [[France]]
| subdivision_type2  = Region
| subdivision_name2  = [[Nouvelle-Aquitaine]]
| subdivision_type3  = 
| subdivision_name3  = 
| subdivision_type4  = 
| subdivision_name4  = 
| subdivision_type5  = 
| subdivision_name5  = 
<!---------------------- PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS -->
| length             = {{convert|75|km|mi|abbr=on}}
| width_min          = {{convert|3|km|mi|abbr=on}}
| width_avg          = 
| width_max          = {{convert|12|km|mi|abbr=on}}
| depth_min          = 
| depth_avg          = 
| depth_max          = 
| discharge1_location= 
| discharge1_min     = 
| discharge1_avg     =
| discharge1_max     = 
<!---------------------- BASIN FEATURES -->
| mouth              = [[Atlantic Ocean]]
| mouth_location     =
| mouth_elevation    =
| progression       = [[Corrèze (river)|Corrèze]] → [[Vézère]]→ {{PDordogne}}
| river_system       = 
| basin_size         = {{convert|635|km2|abbr=on}}
| tributaries_left   = [[Garonne]]
| tributaries_right  = [[Dordogne (river)|Dordogne]]
}}

The '''Gironde estuary''' ({{IPAc-en|ʒ|ɪ|ˈ|r|ɒ|n|d}} {{respell|zhi|ROND}},<ref>{{Cite encyclopedia |url=http://www.lexico.com/definition/Gironde |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200801020646/https://www.lexico.com/definition/gironde |url-status=dead |archive-date=2020-08-01 |title=Gironde |dictionary=[[Lexico]] UK English Dictionary |publisher=[[Oxford University Press]]}}</ref> <small>[[American English|US]] usually</small> {{IPAc-en|dʒ|ɪ|ˈ|-}} {{respell|ji|-}};<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/gironde|title=Gironde|work=[[Collins English Dictionary]]|publisher=[[HarperCollins]]|access-date=28 August 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite Merriam-Webster|Gironde|access-date=28 August 2019}}</ref> {{langx|fr|estuaire de la Gironde}}, {{IPA|fr|ɛstɥɛʁ də la ʒiʁɔ̃d|}}; {{langx|oc|estuari de [la] Gironda}}, {{IPA|oc|estyˈaɾi ˈde lo dʒiˈɾundo|}}) is a navigable [[estuary]] (though often referred to as a [[river]]) in southwest [[France]] and is formed from the meeting of the rivers [[Dordogne (river)|Dordogne]] and [[Garonne]] just downstream of the centre of [[Bordeaux]]. Covering around {{convert|635|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}}, it is the largest estuary in western [[Europe]].<ref>[http://www.aires-marines.fr/c-parc-naturel-marin-sur-lestuaire-de-gironde-et-sur-les-pertuis-charentais-letude-est-lancee.html (C) Parc naturel marin sur l'estuaire de Gironde et sur les Pertuis Charentais : l'étude est lancée] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110509071142/http://www.aires-marines.fr/c-parc-naturel-marin-sur-lestuaire-de-gironde-et-sur-les-pertuis-charentais-letude-est-lancee.html |date=2011-05-09 }} Agence des aires marines protégées/French Marine Protected Areas Agency, published 2008-07-25, accessed 2011-03-30</ref>

Giving its name to the French ''[[département in France|département]]'' [[Gironde]],  
the Gironde estuary is approximately {{convert|75|km|mi|abbr=on}} long and 3–12&nbsp;km (2–7&nbsp;miles) wide. It is subject to very strong tidal currents and great care is needed when navigating the estuary by any size or type of boat.

Since 2015, the Gironde estuary has been part of the [[Gironde estuary and Pertuis sea Marine Nature Park]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.global-regulation.com/translation/france/1982872/decree-no.-2015-424-of-april-15%252c-2015%252c-for-the-establishment-of-the-marine-park-of-the-estuary-of-the-gironde-and-the-sea-of-the-pertuis.html|title=Machine Translation of "Decree No. 2015-424 of April 15, 2015, for the Establishment of the Marine Park of the Estuary of the Gironde and the Se..." (France)}}</ref>

==Islands of the Gironde ==
[[File:2010-10-25 Gironde Estuary.jpg|thumb|left|Islands of the Gironde at the [[Bec d'Ambès]] where the rivers [[Dordogne (river)|Dordogne]] (right) and [[Garonne]] (left) join into the estuary]]

Within the estuary between the [[Pointe de Grave]] at the seaward end and the [[Bec d'Ambès]] are a series of small islands.

The [[Île de Patiras]] is {{convert|200|ha}} in size with a [[Cordouan lighthouse|lighthouse]] to aid navigation in the estuary.  Vines and maize are grown there.

The [[Île Sans-Pain]] and [[Île Bouchaud]] are now virtually joined due to progressive silting and are referred to as the Ile Nouvelle.  They total about {{convert|265|ha}} and are owned by the Conservatoire du Littoral and managed by the Department of the Gironde.

The [[Île Paté]] is about {{convert|13|ha}} and in 2006 was privately owned. The island has a historic fort built between 1685 and 1693 as part of the national fortification program masterminded by [[Vauban]]. The building is oval in shape, about {{convert|12|m}} high and was originally equipped with about 30 cannons. [[Fort Paté]], together with [[Fort Médoc]] on the left bank of the estuary and the ancient [[Citadel|''citadelle'']] of [[Blaye]] on the right bank, defended the estuary and Bordeaux. During the French Revolution the fort was used as a prison for priests.

In 2006, the [[Conseil General]] decided to make the island a ZPENS (zone de pre-emption espace naturel sensible). ZPENS status protects the island from development. If the owner wishes to sell the island, then the Department has a pre-emptive right. After two months the [[Conservatoire National du Littoral]] has the next pre-emptive right and then after another 2 months the town of Blaye has a final pre-emptive right to acquire the island.

The [[Île Verte, Gironde estuary|Île Verte]], [[Île du Nord, Gironde|Île du Nord]] and [[Île Cazeau]] comprise about {{convert|800|ha}} and because of their natural state provide a fine stopping off place for migrating birds.

The [[Île Margaux]] is {{convert|25|ha}} and in 2005 had {{convert|14|ha}} devoted to vines and is part of the world famous [[Médoc]] wine region.

The [[Île Sans Nom]] which appeared in 2009 following [[Cyclone Klaus]] lies around {{convert|1|mi|km}} east of [[Cordouan Lighthouse]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Tearse |first1=Graham |title=Fragile habitat of French mystery island 'risks being trampled underfoot' |url=https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2010/aug/11/france-mystery-island-protection |access-date=15 August 2020 |work=The Guardian |date=11 August 2010}}</ref>

== Second World War ==
[[File:Oper frankton cockle.jpg|thumb|left|The [[Folding kayak|Mark II canoes]] used in [[Operation Frankton]], the British attack on Bordeaux in 1942]]
In December 1942, during the [[Second World War]], [[Operation Frankton]] took place with the goal of destroying ships moored at the docks in Bordeaux.

The plan was for six canoes to be taken to the area of the Gironde estuary by [[submarine]]. Twelve men would then paddle by night to Bordeaux. On arrival they would attach timed  [[limpet mines]] to the docked cargo ships and escape overland to Spain.

The raid was carried out by a small unit of [[Royal Marines]] known as the Royal Marines Boom Patrol Detachment (RMBPD), part of [[Combined Operations Headquarters|Combined Operations]], led by [[Herbert Hasler|Herbert 'Blondie' Hasler]]. They succeeded in slipping into the harbour unnoticed and sank one ship and severely damaged four others. Only two of the men returned to the UK alive, but they did enough damage to greatly disrupt the use of the harbour for the following months.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/hampshire/content/articles/2008/12/08/hayling_canoes_feature.shtml|title = Hayling Island's secret canoes}}</ref>

The prototypes of the [[Char B1|Char B1 ter]] heavy tank were lost in the Gironde as a result of German bombing in 1940.<ref>Stéphane Ferrard, 2014, "Du Char B à l'ARL 44, un long cheminement (II). 1937-1940 : Ce Mal Aimé. Le char B 1''ter''", ''Histoire de Guerre, Blindés & Matériel'' '''109''': 67-78</ref>

{{Commons category|Gironde estuary}}

== References ==
*The information relating to the protected status of Île Paté and the general information relating to the other islands is public domain information which was summarised as part of an article in the regional 'Sud Ouest' newspaper dated 3 October 2006.
{{Reflist}}

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[[Category:Tributaries of the Dordogne|Gironde estuary]]
[[Category:Bodies of water of Metropolitan France]]
[[Category:Landforms of Gironde]]
[[Category:Estuaries of Europe]]
[[Category:Landforms of Charente-Maritime]]
[[Category:World War II sites in France]]