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Savinois Serre-Ponçon

The dam and its history

Embrunais

Around the lake of Serre-poncon

Queyras

Guillestrois

Champsaur / Valgaudemar

Brianconnais/
haute claree / la Grave

Pelvoux la meije
Ailefroide

Gapencais

Lautaret pass

Izoard pass

La bonette pass

Galibier pass

Driving around the lake of Serre Ponçon will allow you to spend a very nice and unexpected day

Start from Savines towards Le Sauze.

Going towards Le Sauze
you'll discover a wonderful landscape

The "Demoiselles Coiffées"
limestone and schist pillars,
sculpted by erosion and time

Arriving in Le Sauze,
go to the panoramic viewpoint
on the dam

view from the dam

In Le Sauze, farmers
used to grow lavender.

After Le Sauze, stop at "La Montagne aux Marmottes" where you will observe these animals
in a natural setting.
Information : 04.92.44.32.00

Look on the right behind the ridge
and you'll probably see some parapentists
in the sky over Saint Vincent les Forts.

To learn more about the dam and its history, visit the official site

When arrived at the dam of Serre Ponçon,
you can plan a visit of the hydroelectric station
Phone : 04.92.53.28.50

Embankment dams, like Serre Ponçon, are made of different types of materials arranged in order to ensure stability as well as waterproofness. The arrangement of the different materials if called zoning. It allows large savings in the volume of the materials used and to get the best out of the locally available materials. There are as many different zoning techniques as there are dams because each one is designed according to the materials available in its area. Many are made of an impervious central core, protecting layers and a rock foundation. The core material consists of clay or a silty sand with gravels. These materials are excavated from the abutments of the dam and from borrow areas located near the dam. Filters and drains of sands and gravels are located on either side of the core. These layers protect the central core and serve as transition and drain zones between the core and the outer shell. The shell on the main sections of the dam is comprised of sand, gravel and rock. The outermost dam surfaces are protected from waves and erosion by layers of armor rock. The rock foundation supporting the core is carefully cleaned and treated with grout to prevent any leakage of water. A grout curtain control seepage through the foundation. Galleries (tunnels) are installed below the dam to allow supplemental grouting, and to monitor any water seeping from the foundation area. 

Construction
Year of construction : 1955-1960
First use: 1960

Description
Type of dam: embankment dam
Foundations : deposits

Design features

Hydrology

save time to visit the museum of the lake, which retraces history before and after building the dam
Information : 04.92.54.50.0

After the dam, go towards Lebraut pass

the dam viewed from a plane

water release

After the pass, go down to Chorges,
a charming typical village

From Chorges, you have a choice to make:
either come back following the lake bank
or come back through Sait Appolinaire.
The view is really unique.

 
In Saint Appolinaire, stop to have a look at
the fly angling lake

Then come back to Savines

If you choose to finish your trip around the lake,
stop in Saint Michel's Bay
to have a look at the chapel.

This trip around the lake of Serre-Ponçon is
one of the best ways to have a good day
and visit several wonderful places