Pornichet | ||
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Sunset at the entrance to the port of Pornichet
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Coordinates: 47°16′39″N 2°20′20″W / 47.2775°N 2.3389°WCoordinates: 47°16′39″N 2°20′20″W / 47.2775°N 2.3389°W | ||
Country | France | |
Region | Pays de la Loire | |
Department | Loire-Atlantique | |
Arrondissement | Saint-Nazaire | |
Canton | La Baule-Escoublac | |
Intercommunality | région nazairienne et l'estuaire | |
Government | ||
• Mayor (2008–2014) | Robert Belliot | |
Area1 | 12.67 km2 (4.89 sq mi) | |
Population (2008)2 | 10,502 | |
• Density | 830/km2 (2,100/sq mi) | |
Time zone | CET (UTC+1) | |
• Summer (DST) | CEST (UTC+2) | |
INSEE/Postal code | 44132 /44380 | |
Elevation | 0–44 m (0–144 ft) | |
Website | http://www.mairie-pornichet.fr/ | |
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.
Pornichet is a commune in the Loire-Atlantique department in western France.
Pornichet is a coastal town of the Côte d'Amour, located tens of kilometers west of Saint-Nazaire.
The adjacent towns are Saint-Nazaire and La Baule-Escoublac.
The town of Pornichet is located
The lowest altitude (except shoreline) is of 4 m at the racetrack. The dune behind the beach of the Libraires reaches 9 m. The cliffs of Bonne Source and Sainte-Marguerite can reach 12 m. Going inland, altitudes progressively increase up to 44 m. The highest point is located in the hamlet called Ville ès Blais.
Pornichet has three beaches: in the West, the Beach of the Libraires (plage des Libraires), of 2 km length, is part of the Bay of Pouliguen (baie du Pouliguen), shared with La Baule; the border is marked by the Mazy creek (currently underground). In the East, between the Pointe du Bec and the Pointe de la Lande, are located the beaches of Bonne-Source (2.5 km) and Sainte-Marguerite (1.5 km), separated by a rocky head called the Pointe de Congrigoux.
The name of Pornichet comes from Port Niché, which could be translated by Port in a niche. The town is named following its principal characteristic of a port located in an alcove along a salt-work channel, which was connecting the salt-works (current racetrack) and the bay.
Until the town was created in 1900, Pornichet was a hamlet of Saint-Nazaire.