Lake Annecy
Encyclopedia
Lake Annecy is a perialpine lake
in Haute-Savoie
in France
.
It is the second largest lake in France, after the Lac du Bourget
, if the French part of Lake Geneva
(which is also partly in Switzerland) is excluded. It is known as "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 18,000 years ago, at the time the large alpine glaciers melted. It is fed by many small rivers from the surrounding mountains (Ire
, Eau morte, Laudon, Bornette and Biolon), and from a powerful underwater source, the Boubioz, which enters at 82 m depth.
A cycle path goes around Lake Annecy past Sevrier and St Jorioz to Ugine. It has an aim to reach Albertville. The lake is around 14km long.
Lake
A lake is a body of relatively still fresh or salt water of considerable size, localized in a basin, that is surrounded by land. Lakes are inland and not part of the ocean and therefore are distinct from lagoons, and are larger and deeper than ponds. Lakes can be contrasted with rivers or streams,...
in Haute-Savoie
Haute-Savoie
Haute-Savoie is a French department in the Rhône-Alpes region of eastern France. It borders both Switzerland and Italy. The capital is Annecy. To the north is Lake Geneva and Switzerland; to the south and southeast are the Mont Blanc and Aravis mountain ranges and the French entrance to the Mont...
in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
.
It is the second largest lake in France, after the Lac du Bourget
Lac du Bourget
The lac du Bourget is a lake in the Savoie department of France. It is the largest and the deepest lake located entirely within France. The most important town on its shore is Aix-les-Bains. Chambéry, the capital of Savoie, lies about 10 km south of the lake. The lake is named after the town Le...
, if the French part of Lake Geneva
Lake Geneva
Lake Geneva or Lake Léman is a lake in Switzerland and France. It is one of the largest lakes in Western Europe. 59.53 % of it comes under the jurisdiction of Switzerland , and 40.47 % under France...
(which is also partly in Switzerland) is excluded. It is known as "Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
'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 18,000 years ago, at the time the large alpine glaciers melted. It is fed by many small rivers from the surrounding mountains (Ire
Ire
-Ire:* Extreme anger; intense fury.* Ire, a mountain in France* Irē, is the Livonian name for Mazirbe, Latvia* A town in Oye, Nigeria-IRE:* an abbreviation of Ireland, usually referring to the island of Ireland or bodies that represent it such as the Ireland national rugby union team * Institute of...
, Eau morte, Laudon, Bornette and Biolon), and from a powerful underwater source, the Boubioz, which enters at 82 m depth.
Towns and villages around the lake
- AnnecyAnnecyAnnecy is a commune in the Haute-Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France.It lies on the northern tip of Lake Annecy , 35 kilometres south of Geneva.-Administration:...
- Annecy-le-VieuxAnnecy-le-VieuxAnnecy-le-Vieux is a commune in the Haute-Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in southeastern France.It is the fourth-largest town in Haute-Savoie in terms of population, and is located on the northeastern shore of Lake Annecy...
- DoussardDoussardDoussard is a commune in the Haute-Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France.The village contains a landing field used by many paragliders, usually after they've taken off from the nearby Col de la Forclaz.-References:*...
- DuingtDuingtDuingt is a commune in the Haute-Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France.-Sights:thumb|250px|Château de DuingtThe church of Duingt was build in the Duingtieth Century in Neo-Gothic style. Duingt has two castles, but they can not be visited. The Château de Duingt Duingt...
- LathuileLathuileLathuile is a commune in the Haute-Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France.-References:*...
- Menthon-Saint-BernardMenthon-Saint-BernardMenthon-Saint-Bernard is a commune in the Haute-Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France.-References:*...
- Saint-JoriozSaint-JoriozSaint-Jorioz is a commune in the Haute-Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France.-World heritage site:It is home to one or more prehistoric pile-dwelling settlements that are part of the Prehistoric Pile dwellings around the Alps UNESCO World Heritage Site.-References:*...
- SevrierSevrierSévrier is a commune in the Haute-Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France.It is located on the north-western banks of Lake Annecy...
- TalloiresTalloiresTalloires is a commune in the Haute-Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France.-Geography:Talloires is located south of Geneva, Switzerland, on Lake Annecy and from the local "prefecture" Annecy, near the border of Italy...
- Veyrier-du-LacVeyrier-du-LacVeyrier-du-Lac is a commune in the Haute-Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France.-References:*...
A cycle path goes around Lake Annecy past Sevrier and St Jorioz to Ugine. It has an aim to reach Albertville. The lake is around 14km long.
Further Reading
- Jean-Daniel Stanley and Thomas F. Jorstad, Direct Sediment Dispersal from Mountain to Shore, with Bypassing via Three Human-Modified Channel Systems to Lake Annecy, SE France (2004) Vol 20 (4) Journal of Coastal Research pp 958 - 969 JStor.