Lac de Paladru
Lake Paladru is a small lake located in the Isère département of Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, near Charavines, in France.
The lake was formed by the glacier of the Rhône. It is 5.3 kilometres long and 1.2 kilometres wide when full. The maximum depth is 36 metres. The lake is shared among four municipalities and two cantons. It is the fifth largest natural lake of glacier origin in France.
It is a major archaeological site, with several protected natural areas that are inaccessible to the public.
Geography
Location
Lake Paladru is located in the Isère département, in the region of the Miocene hills of Bas-Dauphiné called "Terres froides" and between the towns of Voiron and La Tour-du-Pin. It extends in a north-east or south-west orientation over 5.3 kilometres for a width of 650 metres. The average depth is 25 metres, with a maximum depth of 36 metres, when full. The lake contains 97 million m³ of water, and is located 492 metres above sea level.Four municipalities share the lake; Charavines to the south, Villages du Lac de Paladru to the west and north, and Montferrat and Bilieu to the east.
The main beaches are located at the northern and southern ends, the shores on the side have a steeper gradient.
Access
The lake is bordered by two departmental roads which allow access:- The route départementale 50 which connects the town of La Bâtie-Divisin to the town of La Murette
- The route départementale 90 which connects the town of Charavines with Villages du Lac de Paladru along the eastern shore.
Hydrography
Water source
The lake is fed by two streams which are two tributaries of La Fure:- the Courbon, a 3.7 kilometre long stream which originates at Montferrat and joins the lake at Paladru.
- the Surand, also known as Chantabot or Marais stream. This is an outlet from the Vivier pond, a body of water located in the municipality of Valencogne.
The source of La Fure
La Fure enters the lake at Charavines. This river joins the Isère at Tullins, after 20 kilometres having crossed Rives.Weather
The lake area has a cool temperate climate. The north–south orientation and relatively high altitude means the average temperature is around 10 °C. Rainfall is irregular, with most rain occurring in June and October with the rise of humid air masses from the Mediterranean. January is the coldest month, with freezing occurring frequently.Toponymy
There are two possibilities to explain the origin of the name:- the word palud means "marais" in ancient French. The term Paladru, attached to the village of the same name, is similar to this term. A marsh is located north of the lake.
- According to Dauphinois historian Nicolas Chorier, the term Paladru could refer to the presence of oaks.