Where is Girotte Lake?
France, europe
13 km
1,753 m
hard
Year-round
Okay, picture this: Lac de la Girotte, a seriously stunning high-altitude reservoir tucked away in the Savoie region of France. We're talking 1,753 meters (that's 5,751 feet!) up in the Auvergne-RhĂ´ne-Alpes.
This lake wasn't always here. It was created by damming the area, initially in 1942, and later expanded. Now it holds a whopping 30 million cubic meters of water fed by 13 km of tunnels. At its deepest, it plunges down 134 meters!
Now, getting there is part of the adventure. The road? Let's just say it's not for the faint of heart. Built in the 40s, it's unpaved, super narrow, and definitely challenging. Private vehicles aren't allowed, and usually closed. It's a 5.5 km climb from Parking de Belleville, gaining 516 meters in elevation, which means you're looking at an average gradient of 9.38%, with some sections hitting a crazy 26.8%!
But trust me, the views are SO worth it. You'll be rewarded with breathtaking scenery of the Mont Blanc massif and stunning vistas of the surrounding peaks and glaciers. From the dam, you can enjoy beautiful views. Just a heads-up: the area isn't super secure, so maybe not ideal for little kids running around.
Road Details
- Country
- France
- Continent
- europe
- Length
- 13 km
- Max Elevation
- 1,753 m
- Difficulty
- hard
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