SALAGOU LAKE

It's the largest lake in the Hérault department and one of the most famous in the South of France. And if it looks like it's always been there, that's not the case at all. Lac du Salagou is an artificial lake. Originally, the Salagou was just a small river. In the late 1960s, it was dammed to irrigate farmland on the surrounding plain and to regulate flooding of the Lergue and Hérault rivers. Thus was born the immense Lac du Salagou, with a dam measuring 63 m in height and 357 m in length and a water surface area of 750 ha, 7 km in length, a perimeter of 28 km, 45 m deep at its deepest point and up to 125 million^m3 of clear water. Added to these impressive dimensions are catfish over a metre long, among other fish resources. It's a jewel in the crown and a site that you'd expect to be natural, even if it isn't. It's much appreciated by locals and visitors alike, who love the peace and tranquillity of nature. In the heart of the Hérault and Languedoc regions, this lake is indeed like no other, and stands out not only for the contrast between water and a particularly arid landscape, but also for its geological richness and biodiversity, virtually unique in the world. This combination has created a wonderful setting for a wide range of outdoor leisure activities, from gliding across the lake to diving into the water and hiking around the lake.

The first thing you notice about Lac du Salagou is the magic of its colors. You admire the hills of red earth known as "ruffes", made up of clay sediments loaded with iron oxide, and the water reflecting the blue of the sky. Then you spot the nuances of the rocks, ranging from yellow to black, creating a spectacular chromatic palette! The lake and its surroundings are one of the Hérault department's main recreational areas. The lake is perfect for swimming and water sports, with water temperatures reaching 28°C in summer. There's a leisure resort on the Clermont-l'Hérault side, and two beaches, one on the Clermont-l'Hérault side and the other on the Lodève side. The 28 km of river banks are ideal for hiking and mountain biking. Nearby, there are numerous restaurants and campsites where you can stay close to the lake. As an anecdote, it took only 3 days and a violent storm to fill the Lac du Salagou halfway, when it was created in 1969. The lake celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2019.