Lac d'Aiguebelette is a natural lake

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 the Savoie

Savoie

Savoie is a French department located in the Rhône-Alpes region in the French Alps.Together with the Haute-Savoie, Savoie is one of the two departments of the historic region of Savoy that was annexed by France on June 14, 1860, following the signature of the Treaty of Turin on March 24, 1860...

 department of 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...

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Description

With a surface area of 5.45 km², it is one of the largest natural lakes of France. Small towns as Novalaise, Lepin-Le-Lac, St. Alban de Montbel and Aiguebelette-le-lac are located along the lake. The lake is surrounded by a mountain ridge of Col de l'Epine at the north and Le Mont Grelle along the eastern side of the lake. These mountains are about 1.5 kilometers (about 1 mile) high and there are different trails to climb them. There are paragliding possibilities from Col de l'Epine, a sight you can often see in summertime. The lake distinguishes itself by its blue-green color. The lake is extraordinary by the 7 hot water wells that make the temperature of the water pleasant in summertime. There are also some campingsites along the lake and privately owned waterhouses. There are games organised for different camp sites to compete and the usual fireworks in summertime to celebrate the beginning of the French summerbreak. In the south of the lake there are two islands, Le Grand Ile and Le Petit Ile. A chapel has been built on the big island and archaeoligsts found prehistoric materials there. The deepest point in the lake is 71 meters. Motorboats are not allowed on the lake to preserve the silence and wildlife along the lake. There are breathtaking views of the lake from the church at St. Alban de Montbel, mountain ridges and the higher located countryside, a bit north of the road around the lake.