Lake of Sainte-Croix

Lake of Sainte-Croix
Lac de Sainte-Croix (French)
The lake seen from the northeast, with the Pont du Galetas at the bottom, on the border between Var and Alpes-de-Haute-Provence
Lake of Sainte-Croix is located in Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur
Lake of Sainte-Croix
Lake of Sainte-Croix
LocationVar/Alpes-de-Haute-Provence
Coordinates43°45′49″N 6°11′2″E / 43.76361°N 6.18389°E / 43.76361; 6.18389
TypeReservoir
Primary inflowsVerdon
Primary outflowsVerdon
Catchment area1,591 km2 (614 sq mi)
Basin countriesFrance
Surface area22 km2 (8.5 sq mi)
Max. depth93 m (305 ft)
Water volume760×10^6 m3 (27×10^9 cu ft)
Surface elevation477 m (1,565 ft)
SettlementsLes Salles-sur-Verdon, Sainte-Croix-du-Verdon, Bauduen

The Lake of Sainte-Croix (French: Lac de Sainte-Croix, pronounced [lak sɛ̃tkʁwa]) is a reservoir in Southern France that was formed by the construction, between 1971 and 1974 (when it was put into service),[1] of a reinforced-concrete arch dam, the Sainte-Croix Dam [fr]. It marks the departmental border between Var to the southeast and Alpes-de-Haute-Provence to the northwest.

Geography

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The reservoir is fed by the Verdon river, at the outlet of the Verdon Gorge. It holds a maximum of 761 million cubic metres of water. The dam, which generates 142 million kWh of electricity per year, is 94 metres high, 7.5 metres thick at its base and 3 metres thick at its crest.

The village of Les Salles-sur-Verdon stands by the lake; it was rebuilt on the shore after the original lower village was destroyed to make room for the reservoir. Other villages around the lake are Bauduen and Sainte-Croix-du-Verdon. The lake comprises a sole island, the Île de Costebelle (Island of Costebelle), part of the commune of Les Salles-sur-Verdon.

References

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  1. ^ L’histoire de la vallée, www.stecroixduverdon-tourisme.fr (in French).
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