Upper Sûre Lake
Encyclopedia
The Upper Sûre Lake is a large reservoir in north-western Luxembourg
. It is the largest area of water in the country. It gives its name to the commune
of Lac de la Haute-Sûre
, which was formed in 1979.
The Upper Sûre dam was built in the 1960s to meet Luxembourg's drinking water and electricity needs. The town of Esch-sur-Sûre
nestles at one end of the lake. Immediately above it, the river has been dammed to form a hydroelectric
reservoir extending some 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) up the valley. Its average surface area is 3.8 km² (1.5 sq mi), or about 0.15% of Luxembourg's total area.
Surrounded by luxuriant vegetation and peaceful creeks, the lake is a center for water sports, such as sailing
, canoeing
, and kayaking
. Such outdoor activities, which make it an attractive spot for tourists, has led to the growth of a local crafts industry. The lake has a very high level of water quality.
Luxembourg
Luxembourg , officially the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg , is a landlocked country in western Europe, bordered by Belgium, France, and Germany. It has two principal regions: the Oesling in the North as part of the Ardennes massif, and the Gutland in the south...
. It is the largest area of water in the country. It gives its name to the commune
Communes of Luxembourg
The communes of Luxembourg are the lowest nation-wide administrative division in Luxembourg. They conform to LAU level 2.Within the hierarchy of administrative subdivisions, communes come directly below cantons, which are directly below districts. Communes are often re-arranged, being merged or...
of Lac de la Haute-Sûre
Lac de la Haute-Sûre
Lac de la Haute-Sûre , is a commune in north-western Luxembourg. It is part of the canton of Wiltz, which is part of the district of Diekirch. The commune is named after the reservoir of the upper Sauer river. The commune's administrative centre is Bavigne....
, which was formed in 1979.
The Upper Sûre dam was built in the 1960s to meet Luxembourg's drinking water and electricity needs. The town of Esch-sur-Sûre
Esch-sur-Sûre
Esch-sur-Sûre is a commune and small town in north-western Luxembourg. It is part of the canton of Wiltz, which is part of the district of Diekirch...
nestles at one end of the lake. Immediately above it, the river has been dammed to form a hydroelectric
Hydroelectricity
Hydroelectricity is the term referring to electricity generated by hydropower; the production of electrical power through the use of the gravitational force of falling or flowing water. It is the most widely used form of renewable energy...
reservoir extending some 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) up the valley. Its average surface area is 3.8 km² (1.5 sq mi), or about 0.15% of Luxembourg's total area.
Surrounded by luxuriant vegetation and peaceful creeks, the lake is a center for water sports, such as sailing
Sailing
Sailing is the propulsion of a vehicle and the control of its movement with large foils called sails. By changing the rigging, rudder, and sometimes the keel or centre board, a sailor manages the force of the wind on the sails in order to move the boat relative to its surrounding medium and...
, canoeing
Canoeing
Canoeing is an outdoor activity that involves a special kind of canoe.Open canoes may be 'poled' , sailed, 'lined and tracked' or even 'gunnel-bobbed'....
, and kayaking
Kayaking
Kayaking is the use of a kayak for moving across water. Kayaking and canoeing are also known as paddling. Kayaking is distinguished from canoeing by the sitting position of the paddler and the number of blades on the paddle...
. Such outdoor activities, which make it an attractive spot for tourists, has led to the growth of a local crafts industry. The lake has a very high level of water quality.