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| 2149 Saint Martin - Orient Bay (1) |
Known as the "Saint Tropez of the Caribbean", Orient Bay (French: Baie Orientale) is a coastal community and beach on the French side of the island of Saint Martin, on the east coast. Until 1985 the area was undeveloped. Damage caused by Hurricane Luis in 1995 was quickly repaired, and since then the beach has become the most popular on the island.
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| 2150 Saint Martin - Orient Bay (2) |
The two mile long, white powdered sand beach is protected from the Atlantic waves by a reef, and the bottom has a very gradual slope. There's a constant hum of activity on Orient, from the parasailing and windsurfing, to the eating and drinking, to the live music and people gazing. There is also great snorkeling off nearby Caye Verte (Green Key), one of the small beautiful islands dotting the coast, such as Tintamarre and Pinel Island do.
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| 2151 Saint Martin - Saint Barthélemy seen from Orient Bay to sunrise |
What the beach isn't good for, however, is mere swimming, because the strong undertow and raucous waves. A section of the beach at the south end is used by naturists. From the beach can be seen not only the islands of Green Key, Little Key and Pinel, located nearby, but also Île Tintamarre, placed slightly offshore, and even Saint Barthélemy, which lies about 35km southeast of Saint Martin.
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