Roadstead of Brest

Roadstead of Brest
The southern part of the roadstead of Brest
Roadstead of Brest is located in France
Roadstead of Brest
Roadstead of Brest
Roadstead of Brest is located in Brittany
Roadstead of Brest
Roadstead of Brest
LocationIroise Sea, Atlantic Ocean
Coordinates48°20′02″N 4°28′47″W / 48.33389°N 4.47972°W / 48.33389; -4.47972
Typeroadstead
Basin countries France
Max. length15 km (9.3 mi)
Max. width4 km (2.5 mi)
Surface area180 km2 (69 sq mi)
Map of the roadstead of Brest

The roadstead of Brest (French: rade de Brest, French pronunciation: [ʁad bʁɛst]; Breton: Lenn-vor Brest) is a roadstead or bay located in the Finistère department in Brittany in northwestern France. The surface area is about 180 km² (70 sq mi). The port of Brest and one of the two French naval bases, Brest Arsenal, are located on its northern edge. It is linked to the Atlantic Ocean (called the Iroise Sea at this point) by the Goulet de Brest, a strait about 1.8 km wide. Three main rivers drain into the roadstead: the Penfeld (the town of Brest and the first buildings of the naval base were built on its banks), the Élorn (or river of Landerneau) and the Aulne (or river of Châteaulin).