L'Île-aux-Marins is a small island in the Atlantic Ocean

Atlantic Ocean

The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's oceanic divisions. With a total area of about , it covers approximately 20% of the Earth's surface and about 26% of its water surface area...

. It is located off the coast of Saint-Pierre and Miquelon

Saint-Pierre and Miquelon

Saint Pierre and Miquelon is a self-governing territorial overseas collectivity of France. It is the only remnant of the former colonial empire of New France that remains under French control....

 and was a commune

Communes of France

The commune is the lowest level of administrative division in the French Republic. French communes are roughly equivalent to incorporated municipalities or villages in the United States or Gemeinden in Germany...

 of it until 1945, when it was annexed by the commune of Saint-Pierre

Saint-Pierre, Saint-Pierre and Miquelon

Saint-Pierre is the capital of the French overseas collectivity of Saint Pierre and Miquelon, off the coast of Newfoundland in Canada. Saint-Pierre is the more populated of the two communes making up Saint Pierre and Miquelon.-Geography:...

. It is 1500 metre (0.93205910497471 mi) long and its width varies between 100 to 400 m (328.1 to 1,312.3 ft). The highest point, Cape Beaudry, is only 35 metres (114.8 ft) above mean sea level

Above mean sea level

The term above mean sea level refers to the elevation or altitude of any object, relative to the average sea level datum. AMSL is used extensively in radio by engineers to determine the coverage area a station will be able to reach...

.

It was settled in 1604 but never reached a population of 200. Uninhabited since 1965 (except some people who live there from May to November), when the last families left for Saint Pierre Island

Saint Pierre Island

Saint Pierre Island is one of the three main islands of Saint Pierre and Miquelon. It contains the town of Saint-Pierre, which lies on the island's east coast and is the main population centre of the island group....

. It is also a ghost town

Ghost town

A ghost town is an abandoned town or city. A town often becomes a ghost town because the economic activity that supported it has failed, or due to natural or human-caused disasters such as floods, government actions, uncontrolled lawlessness, war, or nuclear disasters...

 and has a number of unique buildings such as the Church, the Jézéquel house, the cemetery, a number of fisherman's homes, and the Archipélitude Museum located in the town's only school. The large hull of a ship

Ship

Since the end of the age of sail a ship has been any large buoyant marine vessel. Ships are generally distinguished from boats based on size and cargo or passenger capacity. Ships are used on lakes, seas, and rivers for a variety of activities, such as the transport of people or goods, fishing,...

is on the northern side of the island and is accessible for photography.