Lac de Caramany, reservoir in France
Lac de Caramany is a man-made reservoir created by a large dam in the Pyrénées-Orientales region, fed by the Agly river and stretching across several small towns. The lake sits at around 165 meters elevation, extends roughly five kilometers, and is surrounded by pastures, woodlands, and farmland.
Construction of the dam began in late 1988 and was completed in 1994, when the lake filled with water for the first time. During excavation work, laborers discovered an ancient neolithic burial site that would eventually lie beneath the water's surface.
The lake serves as a gathering place for nearby communities, especially during warmer seasons. You will see families picnicking along the shore, local residents taking walks, and people spending quiet afternoons watching birds and wildlife by the water.
The lake is easily accessible via the D9 road that connects the surrounding towns, and visitors can park conveniently near the wide Pons de Caramany bridge. The gentle shoreline offers good walking paths and wildlife viewing year-round in calm conditions.
During extreme drought, such as in 2008, the water level drops so far that old pathways and structures resurface. These shifts reveal the hidden history of the land submerged beneath the lake's surface.
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