Lac du Salagou, Artificial lake near Octon, France
The Salagou Lake stretches across the Hérault department with red cliffs and hills reflecting in its blue waters at 140 meters elevation.
The lake was constructed in 1969 as part of a regional agricultural development project to provide irrigation water for local farming communities.
The lake area contains numerous archaeological sites from prehistoric periods, while modern events celebrate regional traditions throughout the seasons.
Visitors can access multiple parking areas around the lake and participate in activities including hiking, cycling, kayaking, paddleboarding, and birdwatching.
The surrounding landscape features geological formations such as the neck and dyke of la Roque and the hill of la Sure.
Location: Clermont-l'Hérault
Elevation above the sea: 140 m
Address: Lac du Salagou, France 34800
GPS coordinates: 43.65912,3.36813
Latest update: August 25, 2025 08:36
Occitanie hosts a wide variety of lakes spread between the Pyrenees and the Massif Central. Natural lakes mainly occupy high-altitude zones in the Pyrenees, where glacial erosion has carved out cirques and basins now filled with water. Lake Oô, located at 4,950 feet (1,507 meters) altitude, receives water from a 984-foot (300-meter) waterfall descending from Lake Espingo. The Bastan lakes form a series of three linked water bodies between 7,217 and 8,202 feet (2,200 and 2,500 meters) near Barèges, while Lake Bethmale, at 3,498 feet (1,065 meters) in Couserans, is surrounded by beech forests. Artificial lakes in the region serve various functions, including water storage, hydroelectric power, and recreational activities. Lake Salagou, created in 1969 in Herault, stands out for its distinctive geological setting: red rocks rich in iron give the landscape a reddish-brown hue. Lake Pareloup, covering about 3,485 acres (1,410 hectares) in Aveyron, is one of the largest reservoirs in the area. Lake Saint-Ferréol, built in the 17th century at the foot of the Black Mountain, supplies the Canal du Midi and demonstrates historic hydraulic engineering. These lakes offer opportunities for hiking, sailing, and windsurfing, especially at Lake Ganguise where the wind blows roughly 300 days per year.
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A very nice lake for walking and organizing relaxing afternoons with family or friends. The soil here, particularly sandy, is often very red.
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