Lac de Serre-Ponçon
Encyclopedia
Lake Serre-Ponçon is a lake
in southeast France
; it is one of the largest artificial lakes in western Europe
. The lake gathers the waters of the Durance
and the Ubaye
rivers, flowing down through the Hautes-Alpes
and the Alpes du Sud to the Rhône River
. The waters are dam
med by the Barrage de Serre-Ponçon, a 123 m high earth core dam.
As well as water control, sixteen hydroelectric plants use the water and the lake provides irrigation
to 1,500 km² of land.
During 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. This flooding is the subject of Jean Giono
's movie Girl and the River
, starring Guy Béart
.
Neighboring communes:
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 southeast 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 one of the largest artificial lakes in western 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...
. The lake gathers the waters of the Durance
Durance
The Durance is a major river in south-eastern France.Its source is in the south-western Alps, in Montgenèvre ski resort near Briançon and it flows south-west through the following départements and cities:* Hautes-Alpes: Briançon, Embrun.* Alpes-de-Haute-Provence: Sisteron, Manosque.* Vaucluse:...
and the Ubaye
Ubaye
The Ubaye is a river of southeastern France. It is 83 km long and flows through the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence department.Its rises at the Col de Longet, in the Cottian Alps on the border with Italy. It flows generally southwest, through Saint-Paul-sur-Ubaye, Jausiers and Barcelonnette...
rivers, flowing down through the Hautes-Alpes
Hautes-Alpes
Hautes-Alpes is a department in southeastern France named after the Alps mountain range.- History :Hautes-Alpes is one of the original 83 departments created during the French Revolution on 4 March 1790...
and the Alpes du Sud to the Rhône River
Rhône River
The Rhone is one of the major rivers of Europe, rising in Switzerland and running from there through southeastern France. At Arles, near its mouth on the Mediterranean Sea, the river divides into two branches, known as the Great Rhone and the Little Rhone...
. The waters are dam
Dam
A dam is a barrier that impounds water or underground streams. Dams generally serve the primary purpose of retaining water, while other structures such as floodgates or levees are used to manage or prevent water flow into specific land regions. Hydropower and pumped-storage hydroelectricity are...
med by the Barrage de Serre-Ponçon, a 123 m high earth core dam.
As well as water control, sixteen hydroelectric plants use the water and the lake provides irrigation
Irrigation
Irrigation may be defined as the science of artificial application of water to the land or soil. It is used to assist in the growing of agricultural crops, maintenance of landscapes, and revegetation of disturbed soils in dry areas and during periods of inadequate rainfall...
to 1,500 km² of land.
History
The lake was created to control water flow after disastrous floods caused severe damage and loss of life in 1843 and 1856. First proposed in 1895, construction started in 1955 and was completed by 1961.During 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. This flooding is the subject of Jean Giono
Jean Giono
Jean Giono was a French author who wrote works of fiction set in the Provence region of France.-First period:...
's movie Girl and the River
Girl and the River
Girl and the River is a 1958 French drama film directed by François Villiers. It was entered into the 1958 Cannes Film Festival.-Cast:* Henri Arius - The uncle from Cavaillon* Pascale Audret - Hortense* Odette Barencey - Joséphine...
, starring Guy Béart
Guy Béart
Guy Béart is a French singer and songwriter.-Biography:He was born Guy Béhart-Hasson in Cairo, Egypt, to a family of Spanish, Swiss, and Russian background. His religious background is unclear, having been referred to as both Jewish and Christian...
.
Neighboring communes:
- EmbrunEmbrun, Hautes-AlpesEmbrun is a commune in the Hautes-Alpes department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region in southeastern France.-Description:...
- Savines-le-LacSavines-le-LacSavines-le-Lac is a commune in the Hautes-Alpes department in southeastern France.-Population:-References:*...
- ChorgesChorgesChorges is a commune in the Hautes-Alpes department in southeastern France.It is close to Gap. The name Chorges derives from Latin Catorimagus, itself coming from the Alpine tribe of the Caturiges in the ancient Roman province of Alpes Maritimae....