The tour of the Settons lake by foot in the Morvan

The Settons lake is an artificial lake located in the heart of the Morvan regional natural park in the Nièvre. It is located south of the town of Montsauche-les-Settons at 2h30 from Paris or Lyon. Its surface area is 367 ha with a maximum depth of 18 meters near the dam. It was built from 1854 to 1861. Its first function was to facilitate the transport of firewood produced in the forests of Morvan to Paris. The transport was made by floating the wood, the lake being used to cause artificial floods of the Cure (river feeding the lake) to facilitate the floating of wood. This activity ended in the 1920s. The lake was then converted into a tourist lake. It is one of the few lakes in the region where all water activities are allowed: from pedal boats, canoes, sailing to jet skiing and water skiing. Swimming is allowed. Hiking or mountain biking (rented at the nautical base) are also practiced. The altitude of the lake is 600 meters. The climate is similar to that of a medium-sized mountain.