OLERON ISLAND

French le D'olron, island in the Bay of Biscay, forming part of the Charente-Maritime dpartement, located off the coast of France south of La Rochelle and north of the Gironde Estuary. Olron is the second largest French island (after Corsica), with an area of 68 sq mi (175 sq km). More or less bean-shaped, with an average breadth of about 4 mi (6 km) and extending northwestsoutheast, it is connected with the mainland by a toll bridge about 1 3/4 mi long. Most of the island is flat, and one-third of it is wooded. It is bordered by dunes and has extensive marshes. Oysters are cultivated, and vegetables are grown. The small town of Saint-Trojan in the southwest is a seaside resort. A number of small harbour towns and coastal villages accommodate holidaymakers; tourism increased greatly after the completion in 1966 of the bridge to the mainland. Pop. (1982) 16,841.