THE LAKE: NATURAL RESERVE TO DISCOVER!!!

CHÂTEAU DES MARAIS by the lake

Lake Grand-Lieu is a lake located in France, in the Loire-Atlantique department. Located southwest of Nantes (the communes of Bouaye and Saint-Aignan-Grand Lieu which border it to the north are part of the Nantes Métropole urban community), as well as about ten kilometers south of the Loire, it is extends almost entirely over the territory of the commune of Saint-Philbert-de-Grand-Lieu.

Due to the very slight slope of the land it covers, it is characterized by a very fluctuating surface area, a shallow depth, and a functioning which is more reminiscent of that of large shallow lakes like Lake Chad, than that of most of the other large lakes of France3. In winter, it is the largest natural lake on the French plain.

The fauna and flora of the lake are remarkable, and it is for this reason that it is classified as a national nature reserve for its largest part (2,694.60 hectares) 4 and a regional nature reserve for its eastern part (i.e. 655 .79 hectares)5. 270 species of birds, 19 species of reptiles and amphibians, 30 species of fish and around fifty mammals inhabit the site. It is in particular a very favorable environment for the European eel. The lake area is home to 250 species of plants and 220 of algae. Eight of these plants are internationally protected. Most of the lake is covered with floating seagrass beds.

It was classified in 1995 as a wetland of international importance by the Ramsar convention.