Soorts-Hossegor

Soorts-Hossegor (French pronunciation: [sɔʁts ɔsəɡɔʁ]; Occitan: Sòrts e Òssagòr, pronounced [sɔrts e ˈɔsoɡɔr], locally [sɔrts e ˌɔsəɣɔɾ]) is a commune in the French department of Landes, Nouvelle-Aquitaine, southwestern France, 20 km (12 miles) north of Biarritz. The town is on a 1,451 ha (3,590-acre) plot of land with 4 beaches on 3.5 km of European Atlantic shoreline, and a lake. Its inhabitants are called Hossegoriens. The area has been inhabited for a millennium, it became a pilgrimage stop off in the 14th century and has since become a well-known seaside resort as of the 19th century. The town's economy is centered around the sport of surfing, and the local beach is a world famous surf break. When possible, the town co-hosts the World Surf League yearly competitions along with the neighbouring towns of Capbreton and Seignosse. Since the 1980s, global companies have established themselves in the town's industrial park.