It is reputed internationally for its ski resort. It is also appreciated for its natural lake, the “lac de Tignes” (2,100 m). The lake of Tignes is supplied with water by the Grande Motte’s glacier. In spite of being frozen 6 months a year, it is a plentiful food source, highly appreciated by fishermen.

Lake of Tignes in summer.

The Tour de France went through the Cormet de Roselend 10 times, thus making it a famous tourist spot. It is classified as “1st category”, which means it is a very difficult climb for the riders.

The barrage of Roselend is 800 m long and 150 m high and can contain up to 185 million m³ of water. It is considered to be the most beautiful barrage in Savoie.

Its construction started in 1955 and was completed in 1962. One village was swallowed up but the inhabitants of the valley didn’t oppose to the project and chose to negociate. They received compensations by EDF (Electricity of France).

Located in the Savoie department (Rhône-Alpes region), the natural lake of Aiguebelette (in French: lac d’Aiguebelette) is one of the largest natural French lakes. It has a surface area of 5.45 km² and is reputed for its emerald color. Its maximal depth is 71 m.

It is a private lake that belongs to the Chambost family and to EDF (Electricity of France), who have entrusted its management to the local authorities.

The lake is 10 km away from Chambéry and is surrounded in the east by the Épine mountain range, whose highest point is the “Mont Grelle” (1 425 m) and in the west by the “Mont Tournier”.

The lake of Serre-Ponçon (in French: lac de Serre-Ponçon) is an artificial lake located in the south of the French Alps, between the two departments of Hautes-Alpes and Alpes-de-Haute Provence. It is the biggest artificial lake in Europe for its capacity (1,272 billion m3) and the second one for its surface area (28,2 km2). The waters are dammed by the barrage of Serre-Ponçon, a 123 m high earth core dam.

The lake was created to control the water flow after disastrous floods causing severe damage and loss of life in 1843 and 1856. First proposed in 1895, its construction started in 1955 and was completed by 1961. During the construction of the lake, approximately 3 million m3 of material was moved. The dam was constructed and the valley slowly became a lake, flooding some villages in the process.

The lake of Serre-Ponçon is one of the most beautiful lakes in France.

As well as water control, sixteen hydroelectric plants use the water and the lake provides irrigation to 1,500 km² of land.

Located in the Haute-Savoie department (Rhône-Alpes region), the natural lake of Annecy (in French: lac d’Annecy) is the second largest lake in France, after the “lac du Bourget“, except for the French part of lac Léman (Lake Geneva).

It is the “Europe’s cleanest lake” because of strict environmental regulations introduced in the 1960s. It is a popular tourist destination known for its swimming and water sports.

The lake was formed about 19,000 years ago when the large alpine glaciers started melting. It is supplied with water by several small rivers from the surrounding mountains (l’Ire, l’Eau morte, le Laudon, la Bornette, le Biolon…), and by a powerful underwater source, the Boubioz, which is 82 m deep.

The lake is surrounded in the east by the “massif des Bornes” (la Tournette – 2 351 m, les Dents de Lanfon, le mont Veyrier and le mont Baron), in the west by the “massif des Bauges” (le Semnoz and le Roc des Bœufs), in the north by the urban areas of Annecy like Annecy-le-Vieux, and in the south by the valley towards Faverges, which extends the “Bout-du-Lac” (the end of the lake).

More details:

• Surface area: 2,759 hectares (27,59 km²).

• Maximun lenght: 14,6 km.

• Max. width: 3.3 km Veyrier and Sévrier.

• Perimetre: 38 km.

• Altitude: the mean is 446,80 m at the “Bout-du-Lac” (the end of the lake) and 446,40 m at Annecy.

• Water volume: 1,124.5 million m³

• Average depth: 41,5 m

• Maximum depth: about 82 m

• Average depth: 41 m

• Surface elevation: 446.97 m

• Time of water renewal: 4 years

• Average water temperature: 6 °C in January and 22 °C in July.

• Water supply: 7 main streams and mountain streams and the source of the Biouboz.

• Water evaporation : 15 million m³ in a normal year.

Located in the Savoie department (Rhône-Alpes region), the lac du Bourget (lake Bourget) is the largest and the deepest natural French lake (except for the Leman lake that belongs to France and Switzerland). It was formed about 19,000 years ago, after the last glaciation of Würm when the large glaciers started melting. It is considered to be one of the most beautiful lakes in France.

The most important town on its shore is Aix-les-Bains. Chambéry, the préfecture of Savoie, lies about 10 km south of the lake. The lake was named after the town Le Bourget-du-Lac, on its south shore. It is mainly supplied with water by the river Leysse (and by other small rivers), and drains towards the river Rhône through the canal of Savières, an artificial channel.

More details:

• Surface area: 44.5 km² (4,450 hectares)

• Max.length: 18 km

• Max. width: 3.5 km

• Average depth: 85 m

• Max. depth: 145 m

• Water volume: 3,6 billion m³

• Water renewal: 8 years

• Surface elevation: 231.5 m

The average water temperature is about 7 °C in January and about 23 °C in July.

Near the lake, there is an interesting aquarium in Aix-les-Bains that presents the aquatic species living in the lake and in its surroundings. 50 species of fresh water fish are presented. The aim of this aquarium is not only to help preserve the local fauna but also to educate people during the visits.

• Address:

Aquarium du Lac du Bourget – Le Petit Port – 73 100 AIX-LES-BAINS

• Phone: +33 04 79 61 08 22 or +33 04 79 88 83 27

• Fax: + 33 04 79 61 32 12

• E-mail (for more information): info@aquarium-lacdubourget.com

• E-mail (administration) : administration@aquarium-lacdubourget.com

• Website: http://www.aquarium-lacdubourget.com

Leman lake also called lake Geneva (in French: le lac Léman, le Léman, lac de Genève) is the largest natural freshwater lake in western Europe (582 km²). It is also the most important lake in continental Europe in terms of volume (89 km³). 60% of it comes under the jurisdiction of Switzerland (cantons of Vaud, Geneva, and Valais), and 40% under France (Haute-Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region).

The crescent-shaped lake, formed by a withdrawing glacier, narrows around Yvoire on the southern shore, thus dividing the lake into the “Grand Lac” (Large Lake) to the east and the “Petit Lac” (Small Lake) to the west.

The lake lies on the course of the Rhône river. The river has its source at the Rhone Glacier near the Grimsel Pass to the east of the lake and flows down through the Canton of Valais, entering the lake between Villeneuve and Le Bouveret, before flowing slowly towards its egress at Geneva. Other tributaries are La Dranse, L’Aubonne, La Morges, La Venoge, and Veveyse.

The Leman lake has an alpine character. The Chablais Alps border its southern shore, the western Bernese Alps lie over its eastern side. The high summits of Grand Combin and Mont Blanc are even visible from a few places.

By the 1960s, the lake had ceased being a transport artery for commercial and construction materials. In the late 1960s pollution made it dangerous to swim at some beaches of the lake; indeed, tourists taking a ride in the local submarine had near zero visibility. By the 1980s, intense environmental pollution (eutrophication) had almost wiped out all the fish. Today, pollution levels have been dramatically cut back, and it is considered safe again to swim in the lake. The major leisure activities include sailing, wind surfing, boating (including water skiing and wakeboarding), rowing, scuba diving and bathing.

On a scientific footnote, in 1827, Leman lake was the site for the first measurement of the speed of sound in (fresh) water. French mathematician Jacques Charles François Sturm and Swiss Physicist Daniel Collodon used two moored boats, separated by a measured distance, as the transmit and receive platforms for the sounds of exploding gunpowder. The loud airborne sound coupled into the lake, establishing a loud underwater sound that could be measured at a distance. The flash of the exploding gunpowder provided the visual starting cue for the timepiece, and the underwater explosion sound striking a bell provided the finish cue.

The shore between Nyon and Lausanne is called “La Côte” because it is “flatter”. Between Lausanne and Vevey is Lavaux, famous for its hilly vineyards.

Name

The first recorded name of the lake is Lacus Lemanus from Roman times; it became Lacus Lausonius, although this name was also used for a town or district on the lake, Lacus Losanetes and then the lac de Lausanne in the Middle Ages. Following the rise of Geneva it became lac de Genève (translated into English as lake Geneva). In the 18th century, lac Léman was revived in French. It is often called lac de Genève in Geneva and lac Léman elsewhere but the customary name in French is now lac Léman or even le Léman. Some maps name the lake “le lac d’Ouchy” (after the port located on the Lausanne lake shore). In contemporary English, the name lake Geneva is predominant.