Lake Neuchâtel
Lake Neuchâtel (French: Lac de Neuchâtel; German: Neuenburgersee) is a lake primarily in Romandy, Switzerland (French-speaking Switzerland). The lake lies mainly in the canton of Neuchâtel, but is also shared by the cantons of Vaud, of Fribourg, and of Bern.
With a surface of 218.3 km2 (84 sq mi), it is the largest lake entirely in Switzerland[1] and the 59th largest lake in Europe. Lake Neuchâtel lies approximately at coordinates 46°54′N 6°51′E / 46.900°N 6.850°E / 46.900; 6.850. It is 38.3 km (23.8 mi) long and no more than 8.2 km (5.1 mi) wide. Its surface is 429 metres (1,407 ft) above sea level, with a maximum depth of 152 metres (499 ft). The total water volume is 14.0 km3 (3.4 cu mi). The lake's drainage area is approximately 2,670 km2 (1,031 sq mi) and its culminating point is Le Chasseron at 1,607 metres (5,272 ft).[2]
The lake receives the Orbe River (called Thielle or Thièle from the city of Orbe onwards), the Arnon, the Areuse (which traverses the Val de Travers), Seyon (flowing through the Val de Ruz), the canal de la Sauge (which drains Lake Murten and receives the Broye River), and the Mentue (at Yvonand). The canal of Thielle (or Zihlkanal in German) drains the lake into Lake Biel-Bienne and is part of regulation system for the lakes and the rivers of the Seeland region.
Lake Neuchâtel was the home of the now extinct species of deepwater trout Salvelinus neocomensis.[3]
List of settlements on the lake
Northwestern shore
From Yverdon to Marin (Southwest to Northeast):
Southeastern shore
From Yverdon.
- Yvonand, Vaud
- Châbles, Fribourg
- Cheyres, Fribourg
- Estavayer-le-Lac, Fribourg
- Forel, Fribourg
- Chevroux, Vaud
- Portalban, Fribourg
- Champmartin, Vaud
- Cudrefin, Vaud
- Witzwil, Bern
Panorama of Lake Neuchâtel
Notes
External links
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