Provence Reservoir travel guide

Glaciers, melting snow, rain- and snowfall: in the Ecrins, energy in the form of water careers down the mountains, gets caught in gigantic dams and irrigates a large part of South-eastern France.

The Ecrins is an important link in the hydroelectric installations along the rivers Durance and Verdon. They comprise the fifth most important hydroelectric reserve in France, and produce as many gigawatts as two nuclear power stations! An ecological blessing, providing essential renewable energy which represents 80% of electricity consumption in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region. A French record. Known in French as "white coal" and "blue gold", water has always been a source of wealth in the Ecrins country. In 2006, the local authorities, together with the electricity company, EdF, were awarded national certification as a "pole of rural excellence", for their joint project on water, "Pays des Écrins, Pays de l’eau". The project aims to valorise the hydroelectric heritage in the area. The region was in fact one of the first to use the motive power of water. The first dams and power stations here were built at the dawning of the 20th century. Today the story continues, highlighted by the creation of a route through the Ecrins, to encourage discovery of the hydroelectric infrastructure used by the EdF. Instituted in 2007, it includes a number of viewing points over the dams of Ailefroide, L'Eychauda, Pallon, Prelles and Vallouise. It is interesting to note that the reservoirs are not only employed for electricity production: as managers of the waterways, EdF surveys the flow rate, is concerned with the preservation of aquatic flora and fauna, and plays a key role in the distribution of irrigation water to farmers all over the Provence.

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