Lake Annecy
Lake Annecy (French: Lac d'Annecy, French pronunciation: [lak dansi]) is a perialpine lake in Haute-Savoie in France. It is named after the city of Annecy, which marks the start of the Thiou, Lake Annecy's outflow river.: 958
| Lake Annecy | |
|---|---|
| Lac d'Annecy (French) | |
Ferry service on Lake Annecy, with the Château de Menthon-Saint-Bernard in the background | |
Lake Annecy | |
| Location | Haute-Savoie |
| Coordinates | 45°51′N 6°10′E |
| Primary inflows | Ire, Eau morte, Laudon, Bornette and Biolon |
| Primary outflows | Thiou |
| Catchment area | 251 km2 (97 sq mi) |
| Basin countries | France |
| Max. length | 14.6 km (9.1 mi) |
| Max. width | 3.2 km (2.0 mi) |
| Surface area | 27.59 km2 (10.65 sq mi) |
| Average depth | 41 m (135 ft) |
| Max. depth | 82 m (269 ft) |
| Water volume | 1,124.5 million cubic metres (911,600 acre⋅ft) |
| Residence time | 4 years |
| Surface elevation | 446.97 m (1,466.4 ft) |
| Settlements | Annecy (see list) |
It is the third-largest lake in France, after the Lac du Bourget and Lac de Grand-Lieu, if the French part of Lake Geneva, which is shared between Switzerland and France, is excluded. It is known as "Europe's cleanest lake" because of strict environmental regulations introduced in the 1960s. It is a popular tourist destination known for its swimming and water sports.
The lake was formed about 18,000 years ago, at the time the large alpine glaciers melted. It is fed by many small rivers from the surrounding mountains (Ire, Eau morte, Laudon, Bornette and Biolon) and a powerful underwater source, the Boubioz, at an 82-metre depth (269 ft).