Bay of Biscay

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 km2 (86,000 sq mi)
Average depth1,744 m (5,722 ft)
Max. depth4,735 m (15,535 ft)
Water volume389,000 km3 (93,000 cu mi)
Salinity35 g/L

The Bay of Biscay (/ˈbɪsk, -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 southern area of the Bay of Biscay that washes over the northern coast of Spain is known locally as the Cantabrian Sea.

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

  1. ^ "Bay of Biscay". Eoearth.org. Archived from the original on 2015-07-20. Retrieved 2015-07-17.