Groix

Groix
Groe

Port Tudy, main harbor of Groix island

Coat of arms

Groix

Location within Brittany region

Groix

Coordinates: 47°38′22″N 3°27′13″W / 47.6394°N 3.4536°WCoordinates: 47°38′22″N 3°27′13″W / 47.6394°N 3.4536°W

Country

Groix

Lorient Agglomération

Government

• Mayor (2008—2014)

Eric Regenermel

Area¹

14.82 km² (5.72 sq mi)

Population (1999)²

2,275

• Density

150/km² (400/sq mi)

Time zone

CET (UTC+1)

• Summer (DST)

CEST (UTC+2)

INSEE/Postal code

56069 /56590

Elevation

0–48 m (0–157 ft)

¹ French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km² (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.

²Population without double counting: residents of multiple communes (e.g., students and military personnel) only counted once.

¹ French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km² (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.

Groix (French: Île de Groix, Breton: Enez Groe) is an island and a commune in the Morbihan department of the region of Brittany in north-western France.

Groix lies a few kilometres off the coast of Lorient. Several ferries a day run from Lorient to Groix.

There are a few small towns on the island. High cliffs are on its north coast and sandy beaches in secluded coves on the south coast. Groix is also home to a wide variety of sea birds. Groix is also famous for hosting the only convex beach in Europe, which also moves following sea currents. During the last 15 years, the beach moved half a kilometer westbound.

The geology of Groix is distinct from that of the nearby continent, and the east and south coasts have been designated a mineral nature reserve since 1982. More than 60 minerals can be found on the island, particularly blue glaucophane (observable on the surface), epidote or garnet. The island mainly consists of schist.

Groix provides a dramatic backdrop for the fourth novel of Peter May's "Enzo" series, Freeze Frame, published in 2010.

Inhabitants of Groix are called Groisillons.

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Wikipedia