THAU IN NUMBERS

The Thau lagoon is about 20 km long with a surface off 7.200 hectares. The average depth is 4.5m, whereas the central navigation channel is around 10 meters. 

Near Bouzigues a 30 meters deep gap produces hot spring water feeding the Balaruc spa and emerging with a flow of 300litres/sec which represents 9 500.000m3 per year, (to be compared with 48 000.000m3 of water supplied from direct rain and an estimated 30 000.000m3 from rivers). 

SOME DATES

During the Gallo-Roman period (100 B.C. till 200 A.D.) fishing and trade of seafood made Thau an important economic and social center. From around year 50 AD hydrotherapy also became an important activity.

An attempt to raise oysters in Sète’s channels took place from about 1875, but the polluted water of the city and the risks of typhoid put an end to the experiment in 1907.

The parks were moved to Bouzigues the following year with the success we still know today.

OYSTER-FARMING

Around 600 oyster-farmers and their 2.700 tables produce an annual 13.000 tons of oysters which is 8.5% of the French production.

An oyster-table is a platform made of metal or wood measuring 50 meters on 12 meters resting on about thirty railroad-rails fixed to the bottom of the lagoon, exceeding one and a half meter above the surface.

BIODIVERSITY AND SEAGRASS (ZOSTERA MARINA)

A part from Oysters the lagoon produces Mussels, Sea-breams (July to October), Mullets; Sea-perch (in winter) and Eels (from October to February).

The lagoon also hosts the most important Horse colony in Europe.

Thanks to a genus of Seagrass called Zostera growing on the seabed, fishes and seahorses find shelter and food.

The Seagrass-bed is also a perfect Carbon storage and a fantastic Oxygen producer we have to protect.

au-delà de l'étang (ne pas oublier de visiter)

Abbaye de Valmagne

Cathédrale de Maguelone

Manufacture royale

Musée Villa Loupian