Étang de Soulcem is a large artificial lake in the Pyrenees mountains in Ariège, France. It is at an elevation of 1570 m and is used for hydroelectricity, generating 62 GWh/year. The lake, which has a surface area of 0.91 km2, was formed following the construction by Électricité de France of a dam across the northern end of the Vicdessos valley in 1980–1983.
Étang de Soulcem | |
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Location | Vicdessos valley, Ariège, France |
Coordinates | 42°40′05″N 01°26′48″E / 42.66806°N 1.44667°E |
Construction began | 1980 |
Opening date | 1983 |
Operator(s) | Électricité de France |
Dam and spillways | |
Impounds | Rousseau de Mounicou |
Height | 66.50 m (218.2 ft) |
Length | 275 m (902 ft) |
Width (base) | 15 m (49 ft) |
Reservoir | |
Creates | Étang de Soulcem |
Total capacity | 29,300,000 m3 (1.03×109 cu ft) |
Catchment area | 44.3 km2 (17.1 sq mi) |
Surface area | 0.91 km2 (0.35 sq mi) |
Power Station | |
Hydraulic head | 409 m (1,342 ft) (via chutes to the Soulcem hydro plant) |
Annual generation | 62 GWh/year |
Average flow 7 m3/s Peak flow 85 m3/s Evacuation flow134 m3/s |
The lake contains various fish including brown trout (S. trutta), Arctic char (S. alpinus), brook trout (S. fontinalis), and common minnow (P. phoxinus).
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