Étang d'Araing, body of water

The Étang d'Araing is a reservoir in the French Pyrenees, on the commune of Sentein in Ariège. It lies at 1,909 metres and covers 32 hectares behind a 230-metre gravity dam built of stone taken nearby. The opaque water, deep teal and slate blue, is bordered on its far shore by a strip of greyish gravel.

The Étang d'Araing was originally a natural high-altitude lake. A gravity dam built in 1935 raised its surface from 23 to 32 hectares, as part of a hydroelectric concession set by a decree of 14 November 1931. The dam, 230 m long and built with stones taken nearby, stores 8.44 million m³ and feeds the Eylie plant on the Lez, with a 1,050 m drop.

The lake takes its name from the Araing stream that feeds it, a tributary of the Isard. Since 1935 the dam has been part of a hydroelectric concession managed by EDF, and the GR 10 long-distance footpath passes the shore. A guarded CAF refuge, the Jacques-Husson, holds 52 places and is kept in season by Anoura Barré.

The best time to visit is June through September when snow has melted and trails are clear. The area is windy and weather can change quickly, so prepare for shifting conditions and bring appropriate gear for mountain weather.

Beneath the reservoir lies an underground cave system called Grotte de la Cigalère where water seeps through natural passages. This karst network reveals the hidden water dynamics between the visible lake and the subterranean world below.