Lake Annecy

About Lake Annecy

The second largest lake in France, Lake Annecy lies in the Haute-Savoie department in the Rhone-Alpes region of Eastern France. Seated at the foot of the Savoy Alps, it is 447 m (1,466.5 ft) above sea level and covers 27.1 km2 (10.5 sq mi). Its average depth is 41 m (134.5 ft), although in places it is as deep as 82 m (269 ft). At its maximum length, it’s 14.6 km (9 mi) and maximum width, 3.2 km (2 mi). It is much prized for its clean, pure water, and is also known as the ‘Blue Lake’.

Strict environmental regulations were introduced in the 1960s to control and preserve the cleanliness and purity of the lake’s water. Evidently these were successful: not only is the water so clear than you can see to the bottom in all but the deepest parts, but the city even pumps its every day water from the lake - a true vote of confidence.

Activites

With a 45 km (28 mi) cycle path running right around the lake, the delightful views along the way and absence of traffic make this one of the most popular cycle paths in France. There are 11 beaches around its shores, so with water an average 24°C in summer, it’s great for swimming and sunbathing. Facilities for sailing, wakeboarding and water skiing are all available at various locations in the area.

There are several areas reserved for windsurfing and there’s even an increasing interest in scuba diving at the site, with the opportunity to explore the lake’s own shipwreck alongside underwater archaeological sites of prehistoric villages dating back to the Neolithic and late bronze eras.