Lake Neuchâtel

Lake Neuchâtel (French: Lac de Neuchâtel; German: Neuenburgersee) is a lake primarily in Romandy, in the French-speaking part of Switzerland. The lake lies mainly in the canton of Neuchâtel, but is also shared by the cantons of Vaud, Fribourg, and Bern.

Lake Neuchâtel
With Lakes Biel and Morat in the background
Coordinates46°54′N 6°51′E
Native nameFrench: Lac de Neuchâtel
German: Neuenburgersee
Primary inflowsL'Orbe (La Thielle), Le Bey, La Brine, L'Arnon, Ruisseau de la Vaux, Le Vivier, L'Areuse, Le Seyon; Canal Oriental, Le Buron, Ruisseau de l'Epena, La Menthue, Ruisseau de Crêt Moron, Ruisseau de Longefont, Ruisseau de Robin, Ruisseau de la Molliette, Canal de la Broye
Primary outflowsZihlkanal / Canal de la Thielle
Catchment area2,670 km2 (1,030 sq mi)
Basin countriesSwitzerland
Max. length38.3 km (23.8 mi)
Max. width8.2 km (5.1 mi)
Surface area218.3 km2 (84.3 sq mi)
Average depth64.2 m (211 ft)
Max. depth152 m (499 ft)
Water volume13.77 km3 (11,160,000 acre⋅ft)
Residence time8.2 years
Surface elevation429 m (1,407 ft)
SettlementsNeuchâtel, Grandson, Yverdon, Estavayer-le-Lac (see list)
Official nameRive sud du lac de Neuchâtel
Designated9 November 1990
Reference no.505[1]

With a surface of 218.3 km2 (84 sq mi), Lake Neuchâtel is the largest lake located entirely in Switzerland and the 59th largest lake in Europe. It is 38.3 km (23.8 mi) long and 8.2 km (5.1 mi) at its widest. Its surface is 429 metres (1,407 ft) above sea level, and the maximum depth is 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 is fed by the rivers L'Orbe (called La Thielle or La Thièle locally, downstream of the city of Orbe), L'Arnon, L'Areuse, Le Seyon, and La Menthue, as well as by the Canal de la Broye. The Thielle Canal (French: Canal de la Thielle, German: Zihlkanal) drains the lake into Lake Biel 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
Cantonal participation of Lake Neuchâtel

From Yverdon to La Tène (Southwest to Northeast):[2]

Southeastern shore

From Yverdon to Gampelen:[2]

Panorama of Lake Neuchâtel

Notes
  1. "Rive sud du lac de Neuchâtel". Ramsar Sites Information Service. Retrieved 25 April 2018.
  2. "Schweiz - Suisse" (Map). Lac de Neuchâtel (2014 ed.). 1:500 000. National Map of Switzerland 1:500'000. Wabern, Switzerland: Federal Office of Topography – swisstopo. ISBN 978-3-302-00070-1. Retrieved 2017-12-10 – via map.geo.admin.ch.
  3. IUCN Red list
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