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 | |
|---|---|
 | |
| 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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