Lac du Bouchet, Volcanic crater lake in Cayres, France.
Lac du Bouchet is a circular volcanic crater lake set in the highlands of Haute-Loire. It is surrounded by dense forest, with a northern shore where a restaurant and boat rental facilities are located.
The lake basin formed millions of years ago through volcanic activity in the Auvergne region. In 1950, it gained protection as a listed natural monument, marking its recognition as an important local resource.
The lake serves as a gathering place where locals and visitors swim, fish, and picnic together throughout the year. The water and surrounding forest shape daily life in the area and hold meaning for the community.
A supervised swimming area welcomes swimmers, and several hiking trails explore the surroundings. Boat rentals allow visitors to venture onto the water, and the site is easily accessible from the valley below.
During winter months, the water surface freezes solid, creating a natural ice rink surrounded by forest. This seasonal transformation makes the site a rare occurrence in the French landscape.
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The Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes area has lakes from very different beginnings. Large lakes that formed from glaciers, like Lake Bourget or Lake Annecy, appeared after the glaciers in the Alps melted. They have deep water surrounded by mountains. In the Massif Central, volcanic lakes sit in old craters,...
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