Îles d'Hyères explained

The Îles d'Hyères (pronounced as /fr/), also known as Îles d'Or (pronounced as /fr/), are a group of four Mediterranean islands off Hyères in the Var department of Southeastern France. Their old name is the Stoechades Islands from Greek, Modern (1453-);: Στοιχάδες Stoikhádes from Greek, Modern (1453-);: στοιχάς stoikhás meaning “in a row one behind another”.^[1]

A unique species of lavender named Lavandula stoechas was discovered here by Pedanius Dioscorides.^[2]

Islands

With a combined area of, the Îles d'Hyères consist of

• Porquerolles  -, an extension of the Giens peninsula
• Port-Cros  -, the most mountainous, part of Port-Cros National Park, noted for rare flora and as a bird refuge
• Île du Bagaud  -, part of the same national park, and without permitted access
• Île du Levant  -, mostly for military use, partly a long-established naturist community centered on the privately owned village of Héliopolis

References

43.01°N 6.4045°W

Notes and References

1. Encyclopedia: στοιχάς . A Greek-English Lexicon . Liddell . Henry George . Scott . Robert . Perseus Digital Library . 1940 .
2. Book: Lavender: The genus Lavandula . Lis-Balchin . Maria . 2002 . London, England, UK . Taylor and Francis . 17 . 0-415-28486-4 .