Lac de l'Abbaye, also known as Lac de Grandvaux or Lac de la Grande Rivière, is a glacial lake in the commune of Grande-Rivière, in the Jura department of France. It is located at an altitude of 879 m (2,884 ft), on the edge of Jura Mountains, 7 km (4.3 mi) south of Saint-Laurent-en-Grandvaux.[1]
| Lac de l'Abbaye | |
|---|---|
 | |
  Lac de l'Abbaye | |
| Location | Grande-Rivière, Jura department, Franche-Comté |
| Coordinates | 46°31′47.87″N 5°54′44.51″E / 46.5299639°N 5.9123639°E |
| Catchment area | 3.25 km2 (1.25 sq mi) |
| Basin countries | France |
| Max. length | 2.1 km (1.3 mi) |
| Max. width | 600 m (2,000 ft) |
| Surface area | 0.9 km2 (0.35 sq mi) |
| Average depth | 9.5 m (31 ft) |
| Max. depth | 19.5 m (64 ft) |
| Water volume | 5.8 hm3 (4,700 acre⋅ft) |
| Surface elevation | 879 m (2,884 ft) |
The lake owes its name to the abbey of Saint-Claude, which was constructed its banks in the 12th century. Only the reconstructed 19th century church remains.[2][3]
The lake is 2.1 km (1.3 mi) in length, 600 m (2,000 ft) wide, covering an area of 120 ha (300 acres). There is a small inflow at the northern end, but the lake is mainly fed from precipitation. Water is lost via a sinkhole. The catchment area of the lake is approximately 350 ha (860 acres).[4]