Lac d'Izourt, French lake
Lac d'Izourt is a reservoir nestled in the Pyrenees at around 1650 meters elevation, surrounded by mountain peaks and rocky terrain. The water sits behind a stone dam built between 1937 and 1940 to harness hydroelectric power for local industry.
The valley once held natural lakes formed after the last Ice Age, but a dam was built from 1937 to 1940 to store water for hydroelectric power plants. On March 24, 1939, a catastrophic windstorm struck the construction site, killing 31 workers and leaving deep scars in local memory.
The lake is reachable by foot from the village of Auzat after a walk of several kilometers, with the path passing through forest and open terrain. The route is relatively flat with gentle climbs and can be managed with basic footwear, allowing roughly three to four hours for a round trip.
On March 24, 1939, a violent windstorm destroyed the construction site and killed 31 workers, many of Italian origin. A memorial stone at the site today reminds visitors of this catastrophe, which remains unforgotten in local memory and gives the reservoir a deeper, somber significance.
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