Étang de Soulcem explained

Étang de Soulcem
Dam Crosses:Rousseau de Mounicou
Res Name:Étang de Soulcem
Location:Vicdessos valley, Ariège, France
Operator:Électricité de France
Dam Length:275m (902feet)
Dam Height:66.5m (218.2feet)
Plant Hydraulic Head:409m (1,342feet) (via chutes to the Soulcem hydro plant)
Dam Width Base:15m (49feet)
Construction Began:1980
Opening:1983
Res Capacity Total:29300000m2
Res Catchment:44.3km2
Res Surface:0.91km2
Plant Annual Gen:62 GWh/year
Coordinates:42.6681°N 1.4467°W
Extra:Average flow 7 m3/s
Peak flow 85 m3/s
Evacuation flow134 m3/s

Étang de Soulcem is a large artificial lake in the Pyrenees mountains in Ariège, France. It is at an elevation of 1570 m and is used for hydroelectricity, generating 62 GWh/year. The lake, which has a surface area of 0.91 km2, was formed following the construction by Électricité de France of a dam across the northern end of the Vicdessos valley in 1980–1983.

The lake contains various fish including brown trout (S. trutta), Arctic char (S. alpinus), brook trout (S. fontinalis), and common minnow (P. phoxinus).