Pheasant Island

Uninhabited island between France and Spain

Pheasant Island (, lang es, , Faisaien Uhartea Konferentziako Uhartea) is an uninhabited river island located in the Bidasoa river, located between France and Spain, whose administration alternates between the two nations every 6 months.

There are no pheasants on the island. The name could be a misinterpretation of some French word related to "passing" or "toll". The "Conference" name could come from the international meetings held there.

The island is a condominium, the world's smallest, under joint sovereignty of Spain and France, and for alternating periods of six months is officially under the governance of the naval commanders of San Sebastián, Spain (1 February – 31 July) and of Bayonne, France (1 August – 31 January). Currently, the French position of "adjunct département director, delegate for the sea and coast of the Atlantic Pyrenees and Landes" carries the title of "viceroy of Pheasant Island", an unusual name in the French Republic. One of the French officers with this title was Julien Viaud, better known as the writer Pierre Loti. In practice, it is administered in turn by the mayors of Irun (in Gipuzkoa, Spain) and Hendaye (in the Pyrénées Atlantiques, France).

as of 2018, the island was approximately long and wide, and it was eroding.

The island can sometimes be reached on foot from the Spanish side at low tide. except very occasionally on heritage open days. and members of the Naval Commands of San Sebastián (Spain) and Bayonne (France), responsible for monitoring the island, land on it every five days.