Lac du Chambon, Reservoir in Isère, France
Lac du Chambon is an artificial lake in the French Alps situated at 1,040 meters (3,410 feet) elevation in Isère, created by a dam across the Romanche River. The water is surrounded by mountain slopes and offers a calm setting for swimming, boating, and other water-based activities.
Construction of the Chambon dam began in 1929 and was completed in 1935, creating this major water storage facility in the Alps. The dam transformed the valley and established an important recreational area for the surrounding region.
The water covers remnants of three former villages—Chambon, Dauphin, and Parizet—whose foundations occasionally become visible to visitors. When water levels drop for maintenance, traces of old stone structures and pathways emerge from the lakebed, connecting people to the communities that once stood there.
The shoreline provides access to water sports with equipment rentals available for canoes, kayaks, and pedal boats. Visiting works best from June through September when weather is dry and water temperatures are comfortable for swimming.
Beneath the water lies an old road that once connected the sunken villages. This pathway becomes visible during maintenance operations and offers a window into the landscape that existed before the dam.
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