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Abarachois is a term used inAtlantic Canada,Saint Pierre and Miquelon,Réunion andMauritius to describe a coastallagoon partially or totally separated from theocean by a sand or shingle bar. OnDiego Garcia in theBritish Indian Ocean Territory it describes narrow-mouthed saltwater wetlands within the lagoon.[1]
Sometimes the bar is constructed of boulders, as is the case at Freshwater Bay near St. John’s, Newfoundland.Salt water may enter the barachois during hightide.
The bar often is formed as a result ofsediment deposited in thedelta region of ariver or – as is the case inMiquelon – by atombolo.
The English term comes from the French language, where the word is pronounced[ba.ʁa.ʃwa].
The term comes from aBasque word,barratxoa, meaninglittle bar. The popular derivation from the Frenchbarre à choir is without historical merit.
InNewfoundland English, the word has become pronounced asbarshwa.
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