Étang de Thau
| Étang de Thau | |
|---|---|
| Thau Lagoon | |
View from Sète | |
| Location | Languedoc-Roussillon |
| Coordinates | 43°24′36″N 3°37′27″E / 43.41000°N 3.62417°E |
| Type | lagoon |
| Basin countries | France |
| Max. length | 21 km (13 mi) |
| Max. width | 8 km (5.0 mi) |
| Surface area | 7,012 ha (17,330 acres) |
| Average depth | 4 m (13 ft) |
| Max. depth | 30 m (98 ft) |
| Surface elevation | 0 m (0 ft) |
| Settlements | Marseillan, Mèze, Bouzigues, Balaruc-les-Bains, Sète |
The Étang de Thau (French pronunciation: [etɑ̃ də to]; Occitan: Estanh de Taur) or Bassin de Thau is the largest of a string of lagoons (étangs) that stretch along the French coast from the Rhône river to the foothills of the Pyrenees and the border to Spain in the Languedoc-Roussillon. Although it has a high salinity, it is considered the third largest lake in France.