With a length of 1.24 miles (2 km) facing the coast, Le Havre's beach is a sought-after meeting point for both residents and tourists. The stroll along the sea, towards Cap de la Hève for example, takes place whatever the season according to the tides. Despite the beach's location close to an industrial area and the passage of ships, the water quality is ideal for swimming. Around 20 water samples are taken throughout the season, which represents two per week and twice as many tests as the usual national average.