The Lac de Montbel is a

reservoir A reservoir (; from French ''réservoir'' ) is an enlarged lake behind a dam. Such a dam may be either artificial, built to store fresh water or it may be a natural formation. Reservoirs can be created in a number of ways, including contro ...

5 minutes from

Chalabre Chalabre (; Languedocien: ''Eissalabra'') is a commune in the Aude department in southern France. The capital of the Quercorb region, it is a relatively unspoilt ''bastide'' with shady streets and quiet alleyways. The local industry died ou ...

, which is a popular location for watersports and swimming. It is located at

Sainte-Colombe-sur-l'Hers Sainte-Colombe-sur-l'Hers (, literally ''Sainte-Colombe on the Hers''; Languedocien: ''Santa Colomba d'Ers'' or ''Santa Colomba d'Èrs'') is a commune in the Aude department in southern France. Population See also *Communes of the Aude depa ...

on the border between the Ariège and

Aude Aude (; ) is a Departments of France, department in Southern France, located in the Occitania (administrative region), Occitanie Regions of France, region and named after the river Aude (river), Aude. The departmental council also calls it "Ca ...

département In the administrative divisions of France, the department (french: département, ) is one of the three levels of government under the national level ("territorial collectivity, territorial collectivities"), between the regions of France, admin ...

s'' of southwestern

France France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of Overseas France, overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic Ocean, Atlantic, Pacific Ocean, Pac ...

. The flooded hillsides are still evident when the water level drops, revealing tree stumps and the thick sticky clay (

marl Marl is an earthy material rich in carbonate minerals, clays, and silt. When hardened into rock, this becomes marlstone. It is formed in marine or freshwater environments, often through the activities of algae. Marl makes up the lower part o ...

) so typical of the Ariège. On quiet hot summer days the water takes on a beautiful turquoise colour which is very photogenic. The area is relatively undeveloped and quiet and privacy are a great attraction. The mountains of the

Pyrenees The Pyrenees (; es, Pirineos ; french: Pyrénées ; ca, Pirineu ; eu, Pirinioak ; oc, Pirenèus ; an, Pirineus) is a mountain range straddling the border of France and Spain. It extends nearly from its union with the Cantabrian Mountains to C ...

are visible in the background. Other lakes for swimming near Montbel include

Lac de la Cavayère Lac de la Cavayère is an artificial lake in the Occitanie ''région'' of France, close to the mediaeval town of Carcassonne. The lake, also known as ''Carcassonne Plage'' (in English, ''Carcassonne Beach''), was created by the building of a 23 m ...

and a smaller one at Pradelles-Cabardès. The dam which created the reservoir was built between 1982 and 1985.

References

External links

Lac de Montbel on AriegeNews (French)
Lakes of Aude Lakes of Ariège (department) {{Aude-geo-stub