Roadstead of Brest

Geographical location

The Rade de Brest (German: Brest harbor and bay of Brest) is a natural, deep projecting into the French mainland bay at Brest in Brittany. The approximately 180 km ² basin is connected through the very narrow Goulet de Brest to the Atlantic Ocean.

Geographical location

The entrance to the Rade de Brest is located in the east of Iroise. The bay has a circumference of 36 kilometers. The city of Brest stretches along its north shore with the docks and in the south it is bounded by the Crozon Peninsula. Three major rivers flow into the Rade: In the north the Penfeld, in the northeast of Elorn and to the south the Alder. The harbor itself is divided by numerous steep reefs and headlands in a variety of smaller and larger coves.

Islands in the bay

  • Ile Ronde
  • Ile de la Pointe du Château
  • Îles du Bindy
  • Ile de Tibidy
  • Ile d' Arun
  • Ile de Térénez
  • Ile Longue
  • Île du Renard
  • Ile Trébéron
  • Île des Morts
  • Ile Perdue

Strategic and economic importance

Your protected position in front of the Atlantic storms, the good to be secured access via the Goulet and the size and depth of the bay, which also allow larger ships access, make the Rade de Brest at a suitable excellent natural harbor and led to an intensive early use for the Navy and merchant shipping.

France Iroise Sea Aulne
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