Verdon Grand Canyon

Filling of Sainte-Croix lake began in 1973 and was completed in 1975. The water submerged the valley, and with it the old village of Salles-sur-Verdon, now re-built on a vast, levelled terrace overlooking the lake's left bank. The lake also submerged France's second largest natural spring, Fontaine l'Evêque.

Sainte-Croix lake covers a surface area of 5,440 acres (10 km in length and 3 km in width). It is limited to the South by the Sainte-Croix hydropower dam and to the North by Pont de Galetas bridge, where the lake is fed by the river Verdon. The dam, built at the entrance to Baudinard gorge, retains 760 million cubic metres of water and produces over 150 million KW/h per year. It supplies electricity to several adjacent towns. It is also one of the main drinking water reserves for the cities of Aix, Marseille and Toulon.

This magnificent lake, leading to the entrance of the Verdon Grand Canyon, is now a coveted tourist attraction, where visitors can enjoy swimming, boating, canoeing and pedaloeing.

Only electric-powered boats are allowed on the lake to ensure its water quality remains irreproachable!