waters in Europe . Filtered and pumped into buildings in the area it tastes delicious .
Before you go worrying about pesky mosquitoes , put all such thoughts aside . There are none here . There are two canals in Annecy which run into the lake , and in the 1960s the then Mayor had them lined with concrete leaving the mosquitoes unable to breed . Twice a year the canals are emptied and cleaned which ensures no pests and very clean water flowing into the lake , fed by melted snow on the mountains .
mountains , a body of water radiating blue one could not be more divine . Its waters include all the blues … so beautiful that it risks breaking your heart .” Mark Twain .
I can give you some facts about Lake Annecy – 14.6km long , 50km circumference , up to 82m deep . It was created some 18000 years ago by melted glaciers and is the second biggest lake in France . But that doesn ’ t tell you anything about the reality of Lake Annecy – it is one of the most beautiful lakes in the world .
The water is turquoise coloured when the sun comes out , more like the Caribbean than southeast France . This is due to the plankton at the bottom of the lake which contains the cleanest
The lake has three main types of fish , much prized by locals . Fishing is strictly controlled so if you want to find a restaurant serving authentic Lake Annecy fish , ask at the tourist office for details .
You can swim in it and it has man-made beaches where you can relax and make like you ’ re in the Mediterranean . You can even dive in it , there ’ s a cruise ship wreck site close to the Imperial Palace Hotel suitable for experienced divers but you can also take a beginners course in the lake .
It takes about an hour to drive all the way round the lake , by bike it takes 4-5 hours and if you don ’ t fancy a hard slog , hire an e-bike . There ’ s a great cycle path all the way round and it is absolutely worth the trip , maybe even staying overnight somewhere en route since you ’ ll pass through some lovely little villages :