Lake Neuchâtel

Lake Neuchâtel
Lac de Neuchâtel
Neuenburgersee

With lakes Biel and Morat in the background
Coordinates 46°54′N 6°51′E / 46.900°N 6.850°E / 46.900; 6.850Coordinates: 46°54′N 6°51′E / 46.900°N 6.850°E / 46.900; 6.850
Primary inflows Thielle (Orbe River), Arnon, Areuse, Seyon, canal de la Sauge, Mentue
Primary outflows canal of Thielle
Catchment area 2,670 km2 (1,030 sq mi)
Basin countries Switzerland
Max. length 38.3 km (23.8 mi)
Max. width 8.2 km (5.1 mi)
Surface area 218.3 km2 (84.3 sq mi)
Average depth 64.2 m (211 ft)
Max. depth 152 m (499 ft)
Water volume 13.77 km3 (11,160,000 acre·ft)
Residence time 8.2 years
Surface elevation 429 m (1,407 ft)
Settlements Neuchâtel, Grandson, Yverdon, Estavayer-le-Lac (see list)

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.

Panorama of Lake Neuchâtel

Notes

  1. ↑ the larger Lake Geneva is shared with France and Lake Constance with Germany and Austria.
  2. ↑ 1:25,000 topographic map (Map). Swisstopo. Retrieved 2014-07-30.
  3. ↑ IUCN Red list
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