- Address: Lac souterrain de Saint-Léonard, Wallis, Switzerland
- Website: lac-souterrain.com
- Average depth: 4 m
- Area: 6,000 m²
- Visiting season: from March 19 to November 1
- Visit time: 09: 00-17: 00, in September - until 5:30 pm
- Cost of visit: 10 Swiss francs
Lake Saint Leonard, located in the canton of Valais in the territory of the homonymous commune in Switzerland , is the largest natural underground water body in Europe. It is known all over the world since 1943, but in 2000, because of the collapse of the giant boulder, it was closed to visit. After carrying out a number of construction works to strengthen the cave's vault since 2003, the lake can once again be visited by tourists from all over the world.
History of the lake
According to local people, the lake of Saint-Leonard was known to them long before the official discovery by scientists. In ancient times, local people used the cool waters of the underground lake as a cooler for the produced wines. The scientific study of Lake Saint-Leonard under the direction of speleologist Jean-Jacques Pitar began in 1943. Already in 1944, a detailed topographic map of the cave and lake was created. Since 1946, the lake of Saint-Leonard has become open to all comers. You can visit it in the framework of a 20-minute excursion , held in several languages.
Features of the lake
At the initial stage of scientific research, the water level in Lake St. Leonard was so high that the distance from the cave's arch to the surface of the water was only 50 cm. But as a result of the earthquake of 1496, part of it left the reservoir. Due to the abundance of clay and gypsum in the water, the cracks in the rocks are gradually clogged. That is why the water level is currently unchanged. Lake Saint Leonard has the following parameters:
- length - 260 m;
- width - 14-29 m;
- the water temperature is 11 degrees.
Lake Saint Leonard is located in a cave formed in the Triassic period about 240 million years ago. The mountains in which the cave itself was formed consist of shale, graphite and quartzite rocks. In addition, in different parts of the cave you can find the following rocks: gypsum, anhydrite, calcareous spar, marble, mica shale, granite, iron and much more. Compared with such a variety of rocks, the flora and fauna of Lake Saint Leonard in Switzerland is relatively scarce. From the vegetation here you can find only green and copper moss.
According to the researchers, originally in the cave lived coleoptera, co-grab, snails and bats. Now the cave, in which the lake Saint Leonard is located, serves as the habitat for bats - dwarf bats. In order to improve the state of Lake Saint Leonard, it was emitted a large number of rainbow and lake trout. These fish live on average 8 years. Such a short period of time is associated with the cannibalism inherent in this type of fish.
How to get there?
You can get to Lake Saint-Leonard both independently and by public transport . For travelers who prefer to travel around the country using their own car, free parking is available near the lake. There is also a souvenir shop and a small cafe where you can eat before the road.
People who like to travel by public transport can get to the lake Saint-Leonard by train. From Bern it is possible to go on a route through the city of Fisp to the eponymous station Saint Leonard, and from Geneva through the city of Sion. The journey takes about two hours.
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