Lac de Saint-Point, Natural glacial lake in Doubs, France

Lac de Saint-Point is a natural glacial lake formed in the mountains of eastern France, covering about 5.2 square kilometers with a maximum depth of 43 meters. The water body stretches roughly 7.2 kilometers through the surrounding terrain.

The lake fills a depression of glacial origin within a Cretaceous syncline on the Haut-Doubs plateau at 849 m. It is fed by the Doubs, which reaches it 22 km after its source at Mouthe. Its name is attested as De lacu donni Valtheri in 1263 and Lou lay dam Vatier in 1282, meaning "Saint-Gauthier"; the current name comes from the neighbouring parish of Saint-Point, recorded as Saint Poing in 1598. Since 1928 a dam at Oye-et-Pallet regulates its level, mainly for downstream factories.

The lake's name comes from the neighbouring parish of Saint-Point, recorded as Saint Poing in 1598; earlier forms such as De lacu donni Valtheri (1263) and Dampvauthier refer to a vanished shrine to Saint Gauthier. It is often wrongly called Lac de Malbuisson after the largest riparian village, which has 855 permanent residents.

The lake lies on a plateau at 849 m, about 15 km from Pontarlier, and the Doubs flows through it. Since 1928 a dam at Oye-et-Pallet on the eastern shore has regulated its level; a replacement dam, 25 cm higher and storing an extra million m³, is due to be built from 2026 over 18 to 24 months. Because of the altitude and harsh climate it often freezes partly or fully in winter.

The lake is fed by the Doubs, which rises at Mouthe 22 km upstream and passes through it before continuing. Its outflow at Oye-et-Pallet has been controlled by a dam since 1928, built mainly for downstream factories; a replacement 25 cm higher was approved in 2025 to store an extra million cubic metres against summer low water.