Ploudalmézeau is a commune in the Finistère department of Brittany in north-western France. The village and port of Portsall is part of the commune. The Amoco Cadiz oil tanker ran aground off Portsall in 1978, causing a large crude oil spill.

Geography

Climate

Ploudalmézeau has an oceanic climate (Köppen climate classification Cfb). The average annual temperature in Ploudalmézeau is 11.9 C. The average annual rainfall is 1006.4 mm with November as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 17.0 C, and lowest in January, at around 7.7 C. The highest temperature ever recorded in Ploudalmézeau was 38.7 C on 18 July 2022; the coldest temperature ever recorded was -7.0 C on 28 February 2018.

International relations

Ploudalmézeau is twinned with Cullompton, Devon.

Population

Breton language

In 2008, 11.69% of primary-school children attended bilingual schools, where Breton language is taught alongside French.

Amoco Cadiz oil spill

On 16 March 1978, Amoco Cadiz, a very large crude carrier (VLCC), owned by Amoco, split in three after running aground on Portsall Rocks, 5 km (3.1 mi) from the coast of Portsall, resulting in the largest oil spill of its kind in history to that date.