List of lakes of France explained

This list of lakes in France roughly distinguishes three categories: the mountain lakes, sorted first by massif, and then by départements; the lakes in plains, sorted by river basin; and the coastal lakes.

Lake Geneva (Lac Léman), the largest in western Europe with 582sqkm, partly in France, partly in Switzerland, is listed in Haute-Savoie for its French part.

Mountain lakes

The lakes of mountain massifs can be natural, often of glaciary origin (G), or volcanic (V), or artificial, generally built for hydraulic energy purposes (H) or flow regulation (F).

Alps

Alpes-de-Haute-Provence

Hautes-Alpes

Alpes-Maritimes

Isère

Savoie

Haute-Savoie

Ardennes

Jura

Ain

Doubs

Jura

Massif Central

Aveyron

Cantal

Creuse

Haute-Vienne

Hérault

Lot

Lozère

Puy-de-Dôme

Tarn

Pyrénées

Ariège

Vosges

Lakes in plains

The lakes in this category can be natural (N) or designed to be used as reservoirs (R).

Basin of the Nièvre

Others

Coastal lakes

The lakes close to the sea can be filled with fresh water (F) or sea water (S).

Pas-de-Calais

Corsica

See also