France’s Dune du Pilat advances, engulfing forest and roads

The Dune du Pilat, situated on the Atlantic coast of Gironde near Arcachon, is the highest sand dune in Europe, reaching a maximum height of about 110 metres, extending roughly 2.7 km in length and 500 m in width, with a sand volume exceeding 60 million m³.

Strong westerly Atlantic winds constantly transport sand inland, causing the dune to migrate eastward at an estimated rate of 1‑5 metres per year. This gradual movement buries coastal pine forest, occasional villas and the departmental road that runs alongside the site, which must be periodically relocated.

The dune draws around 1.5 million visitors annually, ranking it among France’s most visited natural attractions. To protect the fragile environment, authorities require visitors to stay on marked paths, refrain from taking sand, and respect bird‑nesting areas, aiming to preserve the site for future generations.