Estany de la Pradella, Artificial pond in Bolquère, France
The Étang de Pradeilles is a man-made pond in Bolquère, a village in the Pyrénées-Orientales, sitting at close to 6,560 ft (2,000 m) in the Capcir area. It covers more than 15 hectares and sits surrounded by forests and mountain ranges, including the Carlit massif.
The pond was created by hand, originally to supply water and support farming activities in the region. Over time it became a local destination, as shown by old postcards from the 1930s and 1950s.
The pond's name appears in old documents in Catalan as Estany de la Pradella, reflecting the bilingual history of the Capcir region. Anyone walking through the area will notice this Catalan influence in place names and on trail signs.
The pond is reached by small roads and trails that are easy to walk for most visitors. At this altitude, weather can change fast, so it is worth keeping an eye on the sky and planning to head back before any storm builds up.
Although the pond sits high in the mountains, it can be reached by chairlift from Bolquère, making it one of the few bodies of water at this altitude that does not require a long hike to reach. The surface of the water is often partly covered with aquatic plants, giving it a very different look from a typical mountain lake.
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