Coordinates: 44°23′39″N 1°09′46″W / 44.3941666667°N 1.16277777778°W
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Commune of Biscarrosse |
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 The Biscarrosse Elm in January |
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| Location | |
  Biscarrosse
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| Administration | |
|---|---|
| Country | France |
| Region | Aquitaine |
| Department | Landes |
| Arrondissement | Mont-de-Marsan |
| Canton | Parentis |
| Intercommunality | Communauté de commune des Grands Lacs |
| Mayor | Alain Dudon (2001–2008) |
| Statistics | |
| Elevation | 0–78 m (0–260 ft) (avg. 26 m/85 ft) |
| Land area1 | 160.48 km2 (61.96 sq mi) |
| Population2 | 9,281 (1999) |
| - Density | 58 /km2 (150 /sq mi) |
| Miscellaneous | |
| INSEE/Postal code | 40046/ 40600 |
| 1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km² (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries. | |
| 2 Population sans doubles comptes: residents of multiple communes (e.g., students and military personnel) only counted once. | |
Biscarrosse is a commune in the Landes department in Aquitaine in south-western France. It is located 65 km (40 mi) southwest of Bordeaux, and 10 km (6.2 mi) inland from the seaside resort of Biscarrosse-Plage on the Atlantic coast.
Near Biscarrosse is the CEL (national test centre) from which numerous French military rockets have been launched for test purposes. Likewise, the CEL has facilities for launching civilian rockets to study the upper atmosphere.
Near the town centre, outside the Café de l'orme, there is what is believed to be the oldest elm tree in Europe. Planted in 1350, this Field Elm Ulmus minor has almost certainly survived because of its isolation from disease-carrying Scolytus beetles. The tree is now a wreck, the trunk, 3 m in diameter, is completely hollow, supporting just a few heavily-pollarded branches [1]. Legend has it that girls deemed promiscuous were forced to stand naked upon a barrel beneath the tree for a day. One unfortunate, unjustly accused, died of shame, the tree annually producing a corona of blanched leaves in her memory.
External links
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