Lac du Pontet, Mountain lake in Villar-d'Arène, France
The lac du Pontet is a mountain lake in Villar-d'Arène, in the French Alps, sitting at around 6,600 feet (2,000 m) above sea level. It lies in open alpine meadows and looks out over the peaks of the Écrins range, including La Meije.
The lake's basin was shaped by glaciers that carved out the alpine valleys over thousands of years. Water gathered in one of these natural hollows, forming the mountain lake that exists today.
The lac du Pontet draws families and hikers who settle by the water and take in the surrounding peaks. In summer, the shoreline fills with picnickers who spend the day on the alpine meadows.
The lake can be reached by car along a small road from Villar-d'Arène, or on foot along a trail through the alpine meadows. Weather at this elevation can shift fast, so layered clothing is a good idea.
Along the shore grows cottongrass, a plant with small white tufts that signals wet ground and is typical of high mountain lakes. The lake is also a registered fishing spot where Fario trout thrive in the cold water.
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