The Lake of Sainte-Croix is a reservoir in Southern France that was formed by the construction, between 1971 and 1974 (when it was put into service), of a reinforced-concrete arch dam, the. It marks the departmental border between Var to the southeast and Alpes-de-Haute-Provence to the northwest.

Geography

The reservoir is fed by the Verdon river, at the outlet of the Verdon Gorge. It holds a maximum of 761 million cubic metres of water. The dam, which generates 142 million kWh of electricity per year, is 94 metres high, 7.5 metres thick at its base and 3 metres thick at its crest. The village of Les Salles-sur-Verdon stands by the lake; it was rebuilt on the shore after the original lower village was destroyed to make room for the reservoir. Other villages around the lake are Bauduen and Sainte-Croix-du-Verdon. The lake comprises a sole island, the Île de Costebelle (Island of Costebelle), part of the commune of Les Salles-sur-Verdon.