Lac de Moiry facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lac de Moiry |
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| Location | Grimentz, Anniviers, Valais |
| Coordinates | 46°7′49″N 7°34′14″E / 46.13028°N 7.57056°E |
| Primary outflows | Gougra |
| Basin countries | Switzerland |
| Surface area | 1.40 km2 (0.54 sq mi) |
| Max. depth | 120 m (390 ft) |
| Water volume | 78 million cubic metres (63,000 acre⋅ft) |
| Surface elevation | 2,249 m (7,379 ft) |
Lac de Moiry is a beautiful lake high up in the mountains of Switzerland. It's not a natural lake, but a special one created by people! This amazing lake is located in a place called Anniviers, which is part of the Valais region.
Imagine a giant bathtub in the mountains! Lac de Moiry is quite big, covering an area of about 1.40 square kilometers. That's like 140 football fields! It sits very high up, at an elevation of 2,249 meters above sea level. That's higher than many clouds! The deepest part of the lake goes down 120 meters, which is as tall as a 40-story building.
Discovering Lac de Moiry
Lac de Moiry is a stunning blue-green lake. It gets its water from melting glaciers and snow. The lake is surrounded by tall, rocky mountains. You can often see snow on the peaks even in summer. The views around the lake are truly breathtaking. It's a popular spot for hikers and nature lovers.
The Moiry Dam
The lake was created by building a huge wall called a dam. This dam is known as the Moiry Dam. It's an impressive structure, standing 148 meters (about 485 feet) tall. That's taller than a 45-story skyscraper! Building such a massive dam was a huge project. It was finished in 1958, after many years of hard work.
Why Was the Dam Built?
The Moiry Dam was built for a very important reason: to create hydroelectric power. This means using the power of water to make electricity. Water from the lake flows down through giant pipes. This spinning water turns special machines called turbines. The turbines then generate clean electricity for homes and businesses. It's a clever way to use nature's power!
