Lac de Vassivière
Encyclopedia
- This article has been expanded with material from the corresponding page in French Wikipedia
The lac de Vassivière or Vassivière Lake (Vacivièra in Occitan) is one of France's largest lakes, in fact a large reservoir
Reservoir
A reservoir , artificial lake or dam is used to store water.Reservoirs may be created in river valleys by the construction of a dam or may be built by excavation in the ground or by conventional construction techniques such as brickwork or cast concrete.The term reservoir may also be used to...
, about 10 square kilometres in area, situated on the Plateau de Millevaches
Plateau de Millevaches
right|thumb|220px|Plateau de MillevachesThe Plateau de Millevaches is an upland area in the Limousin région of France...
, in the départements of Creuse
Creuse
Creuse is a department in central France named after the Creuse River.-History:Creuse is one of the original 83 departments created during the French Revolution on 4 March 1790. It was created from the former province of La Marche....
and Haute-Vienne
Haute-Vienne
Haute-Vienne is a French department named after the Vienne River. It is one of three departments that together constitute the French region of Limousin.The chief and largest city is Limoges...
. It is the largest area of water in the Limousin
Limousin (région)
Limousin is one of the 27 regions of France. It is composed of three départements: Corrèze, Creuse and the Haute-Vienne.Situated largely in the Massif Central, as of January 1st 2008, the Limousin comprised 740,743 inhabitants on nearly 17 000 km2, making it the second least populated region of...
region of France. It provides water supplies, hydroelectricity, and leisure facilities.
Construction
The lake was constructed after World War II and opened at Christmas 1950. It is the product of two barrages in the valley of the Maulde River, an important tributary of the Vienne RiverVienne River
The Vienne is one of the most important rivers in south-western France, a significant left tributary of the lower Loire. It supports numerous hydro-electric dams, and it is the main river of the Limousin region and also of the eastern part of the Poitou-Charentes region.Two French départements are...
.
Reservoir
A reservoir , artificial lake or dam is used to store water.Reservoirs may be created in river valleys by the construction of a dam or may be built by excavation in the ground or by conventional construction techniques such as brickwork or cast concrete.The term reservoir may also be used to...
to the east, is able to top up it up via an underground canal.
The lac de Vassivière feeds water to a hydro-electric station at Mazet, to the west.
Geography and Environment
The lac de Vassivière is surrounded by more than 7600 hectares of land classified as of ecological or natural interest (ZNIEFF: Zone naturelle d'intérêt écologique, faunistique et floristique), level 1, grouped in 15 distinct areas. These present the full range of landscapes characteristic of the Plateau de MillevachesPlateau de Millevaches
right|thumb|220px|Plateau de MillevachesThe Plateau de Millevaches is an upland area in the Limousin région of France...
: peat bog, wetland
Wetland
A wetland is an area of land whose soil is saturated with water either permanently or seasonally. Wetlands are categorised by their characteristic vegetation, which is adapted to these unique soil conditions....
, heath
Heath (habitat)
A heath or heathland is a dwarf-shrub habitat found on mainly low quality acidic soils, characterised by open, low growing woody vegetation, often dominated by plants of the Ericaceae. There are some clear differences between heath and moorland...
and forest
Forest
A forest, also referred to as a wood or the woods, is an area with a high density of trees. As with cities, depending where you are in the world, what is considered a forest may vary significantly in size and have various classification according to how and what of the forest is composed...
. The bogs, in particular, are unique and fragile small ecosystems, composed of many strata of plant material, and forming a carbon sink. They are the sources of many of the streams and rivers that flow from the region.
The climate is heavily influenced by the elevated, inland location. Milevaches winters are proverbially cold, with heavy snowfalls - enough for some winter sports in the region. Spring is generally cool and wet, but summer is warm and pleasant, albeit with occasional fierce thunderstorms. Autumn often brings a period of considerable sun and warmth, with a spectacular display of gold and brown leaves.
The lac de Vassivière is the 16th largest lake in France by area, but sixth among the artificial lakes, and tenth among fresh water lakes. It is surrounded by many different communes, including:
- in Creuse : Faux-la-MontagneFaux-la-MontagneFaux-la-Montagne is a commune in the Creuse department in the Limousin region in central France.-Geography:An area of lakes and streams, forestry and farming comprising the village and several hamlets some southwest of Aubusson at the junction of the D3, D85 and the D992 roads...
, Royère-de-VassivièreRoyère-de-VassivièreRoyère-de-Vassivière is a commune in the Creuse department in the Limousin region in central France.-Geography:A large area of forestry, farming and lakes comprising the village and several hamlets situated some south of Aubusson on the D3, D7, D8 and the D59 roads...
. - in Haute-VienneHaute-VienneHaute-Vienne is a French department named after the Vienne River. It is one of three departments that together constitute the French region of Limousin.The chief and largest city is Limoges...
: Beaumont-du-LacBeaumont-du-LacBeaumont-du-Lac is a commune in the Haute-Vienne department in the Limousin region in western France.-References:*...
, Peyrat-le-Château,
Amenities
As the lac de Vassivière is entirely inside the MillevachesPlateau de Millevaches
right|thumb|220px|Plateau de MillevachesThe Plateau de Millevaches is an upland area in the Limousin région of France...
Regional Natural Park, large parts of its shoreline are protected from excessive development, and form an important haven for wildlife, and wild flowers in particular.
However, with 45 kilometres of shoreline there has still been room for a good deal of tourist development, mostly at well-separated, small sites. This provides camping and picnic facilities, small-scale catering, hotels, artificial beaches, and small ports. There are demarcated zones for motor boating and water skiing
Water skiing
thumb|right|A slalom skier making a turn on a slalom waterski.Waterskiing is a sport where an individual is pulled behind a boat or a cable ski installation on a body of water, skimming the surface.-History:...
, but most of the surface is dominated by small sailing boats. Much of the surrounding housing caters for tourists. There are numerous organised cycling and walking events. The lake has, in fact, become the most important area for sport, and especially water sports, in the region.
Isle of Vassivière
The Isle of Vassivière is an island at the centre of the lake with an area of 0.75 km². It is dominated by a châteauChâteau
A château is a manor house or residence of the lord of the manor or a country house of nobility or gentry, with or without fortifications, originally—and still most frequently—in French-speaking regions...
and features a number of exhibition and performance spaces, a landscape sculpture park and small menagerie. It is also the site of the lake's main lighthouse
Lighthouse
A lighthouse is a tower, building, or other type of structure designed to emit light from a system of lamps and lenses or, in older times, from a fire, and used as an aid to navigation for maritime pilots at sea or on inland waterways....
, designed in 1988 by Aldo Rossi
Aldo Rossi
Aldo Rossi was an Italian architect and designer who accomplished the unusual feat of achieving international recognition in four distinct areas: theory, drawing, architecture and product design.-Early life:...
.
The island is connected to the shore by a causeway. Only authorised vehicles are allowed, so it is normally accessed on foot or by road train.
Transport
The Lake is entirely encircled by roads and footpaths. The nearest railway station is EymoutiersEymoutiers
Eymoutiers is a commune in the Haute-Vienne department in the Limousin region in western France.Inhabitants are known as Pelauds.-History:...
/Lac de Vassivière. As well as guided tours by boat, there is a free water taxi on the lake.