Big wave surfers have flocked to southwest France as monster waves crashed onto the country's Basque Atlantic coast, creating swells of up to 18 metres.
The Belharra wave, one of Europe's highest, builds up over relatively shallow rocky coastal water more or less regularly, but primarily in autumn and at the end of winter, depending on wind speed and tides.
Dozens of surfers tried their luck riding the waves, watched by photographers and video makers on as many boats.
The Belharra has been a must for big wave surfers for over 10 years and has reached 18 metres at times.
The coastal area close to the Spanish border was put on orange alert amid threats of flooding.
In Biarritz, a woman was swept away by a wave as she was walking along the coast near a lighthouse on Sunday.
Police was also investigating the possible disappearance of a homeless man on a beach.
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