Geography: Lakes

France shares Lake Geneva with Switzerland.

Maubuisson is a small resort on Lake Hourtin-Carcans.

France, a country celebrated for its diverse landscapes that include vineyard-covered hills, alpine mountains, and scenic coastlines, is home to a variety of significant lakes, each with unique characteristics. Among these, Lake Geneva (Lac Léman), shared with Switzerland, stands out for its size and the picturesque towns and cities that line its shores. The following table provides an overview of the country's major lakes, focusing on key aspects such as the lake's surface area, its elevation above sea level, its primary water source, and the nature of its outflow.

Lake Name	Area	Elevation	Water Source	Outflow
Lake Geneva, or Lac Léman (shared with Switzerland)	580 km² (223 mi²)	372 m (1,220 ft)	Glacial; Rhône and Dranse Rivers; precipitation; groundwater	White River
Lake Grand-Lieu	62 km² (24 mi²)	5 m (16 ft)	Ognon, Achenau, and Tenu Rivers	Achenau River
Lake Hourtin-Carcans	56 km² (21.6 mi²)	14 m (45 ft)	Rivers; rainfall	Evaporation
Lake Cazaux	55 km² (21.2 mi²)	12 m (39 ft)	Gourgue River; Larreillet cCanal	Canal des Landes to Arcachon Bay; Lake of Biscarrosse-Parentis
Lake Der-Chantecoq	48 km² (18.5 mi²)	132 m (436 ft)	Marne River	Canal to Marne River
Lake Bourget	44.5 km² (17 mi²)	231.5 m (760 ft)	Leysse River; several small rivers	Canal de Savières to Rhône River
Lake Serre-Ponçon	27.9 km² (10.7 mi²)	780 m (2,559 ft)	Durance and Ubaye Rivers	Durance River
Lake Annecy	27.5 km² (10.6 mi²)	446.5 m (1,464 ft)	Several rivers and streams; groundwater	Thiou River
Lake Lacanau	19.85 km²(7.66 sq mi)	18 m (59 ft)	Rivers	Arcachon Bay