Île de Peilz, Natural island in Lake Geneva, Vaud, Switzerland.
Île de Peilz is a tiny island in Lake Geneva in Switzerland, with a single plane tree growing on it. The island sits near the mouth of the Eau Froide river and forms a barely visible green spot in the water's surface.
The island owes its existence to an intervention in 1797, when inhabitants of Villeneuve covered a rock with soil and stabilized it with walls. This artificial foundation made possible the formation of the current island in the lake.
The island carries a poetic character in local tradition that sets it apart from other lakeside locations. Visitors notice the small green form in the middle of the water, which appears like a quiet symbol of nature.
Visitors should know the island is only visible from the water and sits in an area with shallow waters. Approaching it requires caution because of the low water depth in this zone of the lake.
The island is so small that its exact size is hard to determine and varies depending on how it is measured. This makes it a geographic oddity that keeps mapmakers and geographers puzzled.
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