Lac du Bourget, Natural lake in Savoie, France
Lac du Bourget is a natural lake in Savoie that stretches 18 kilometers (11 miles) in length and measures 3.5 kilometers (2.2 miles) at its widest point. The deepest section reaches 145 meters (476 feet), making it the largest natural lake lying entirely within French territory.
The water body formed during the Würm glaciation when glaciers shaped the land and retreated. These geological processes created a basin that later filled with water.
Poet Alphonse de Lamartine spent time along the shores and dedicated several poems to the water. His verses helped bring this region into French literary tradition.
Fourteen ports around the shore offer more than 2,600 berths for sailing boats and provide access to water sports. Activities such as kayaking, rowing, and wakeboarding are available at different locations.
As a meromictic water body, the deep water does not mix with surface layers throughout the year. This rare characteristic leads to different conditions at varying depths.
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