The New International Encyclopædia/Arcachon

ARCACHON, är′kȧ'shōN′. A French town and favorite watering-place on the Bay of Biscay, in the Department of Gironde, which has grown up since 1854, on the south side of the Bassin d'Arcachon, thirty-four miles southwest of Bordeaux by rail. The fine broad sands are admirably adapted for bathing, and the place is sheltered by sandhills covered with extensive pine woods of the Landes. Its main street stretches two and one-half miles along the shore, with the pine forests immediately behind. The climate is always temperate, averaging in summer 47° F. and in winter 41°. Its numerous villas among the firs are much frequented in the winter by invalids afflicted with lung disease. Scientific oyster culture is practiced here on a large scale. Pop., 1901, 8259. Consult Arachon (Paris, 1899).