Lac de l'Etroit
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Lac de l'Etroit
PEISEY-NANCROIX

Lac de l'Etroit

Lake and glacier
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A series of landscapes ranging from the forest, moor, alpine pasture, high-altitude lake and panoramic views will ensure you don’t get bored.

A series of ambient settings unfold surrounded by their own little worlds, each with its own flora, fauna and history, providing the visitor with a sense of variety in their journey.


Description

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From Pont Baudin car park, go back up the Allée des Mélèzes. At the end turn right in the direction of Lac de l’Etroit. Cross the site of the Palais de la Mine. Stay well to the side, do not follow the trails that go up and down on both sides. At the end, follow ""Lac de l’Etroit"" and enter the spruce forest. Continue following these signs to the lake in question. Climb to the upper limit of the softwood forest, cross a forest of green alders, then arrive at the Alp d´Arc with the Grandes Baraques (large barracks). Follow the path that climbs the crest of the Arc mountain before descending to Lac de l’Etroit. The return route follows the trail that descends to the north, on the right. Upon arriving at a forest track, turn right and continue to Pont Baudin.

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  • Departure : Pont Baudin car park, Peisey-Nancroix
  • Arrival : Pont Baudin car park, Peisey-Nancroix
  • Towns crossed : PEISEY-NANCROIX

Altimetric profile


Recommandations

The descent path is steep. Once at the lake, it is advisable for people with sensitive knees to retrace their steps.


Information desks


Access and parking

From Route N90 road, take Route D87 in the direction of Landry, continue on this road, cross Landry, Peisey, Moulin, Nancroix, then arrive at Pont Baudin. Park in the car park at the bottom on your right where the road makes a bend

Parking :

Pont Baudin car park, Peisey-Nancroix

Accessibility

None

Joëlette
Emergency number :114

10 points of interest

  • History

    The Palet de la Mine and the pathway of larches

    Historical site depicting the town’s mining past. Discovered in 1644, the galena seam (argentiferous lead sulphide) was exploited until 1866. A pathway of larches leads to the former Ecole Française des Mines which stood here from 1802 to 1814. The saw grooves that mark its trees date from 1891/1892. These are the remains of an act of vengeance by people sentenced for wild logging.

  • History

    The Palais de la Mine and the Larch Alley

    A historical site illustrating the municipality’s mining past. Discovered in 1644, the seam of galena (silver lead sulphide) was exploited up until 1866. An alley of larches leads to the former Ecole Française des Mines, which was headquartered there from 1802 to 1814. The saw marks on its trees date back to 1891/1892. They testify to an act of vengeance by people convicted of illegal logging.
  • Flora

    The green alder

    Known locally as arcosse, it has the peculiarity of bending under the weight of the snow thanks to the extreme flexibility of its branches. The green alder occupies the most avalanche-prone terrain. Dense and almost impenetrable, it provides shelter for many birds and mammals. In the past, it was cleared by the breeders, which allowed them to use the area for alpine pastures and provide themselves with firewood.

  • Pastoralism

    The sheep pens of the large huts and the Alpage de la Montagne de l’Arc

    Until the 1980s, the pasture was dairy. The two covered markets intended to house the animals are still visible. This mountain was once a “mutual venture”. Several herds were gathered and managed at a community level. A team was in charge of caring for the herd, milking and making cheese on the mountain pastures. Some non-dairy cows still graze on the pastures today but are no longer watched over.

  • Fauna

    Chamois

    Weighing between 22 to 40 kg, they are the smallest wild goats in the Alps. Adapted to moving over rocks and snow, their hooves have two separate parts that can swivel and are connected by an interdigital septum. By the end of the 20th century, the chamois had almost disappeared from the Bellecote massif, but five individuals were reintroduced in 1992. The population is now substantial and has benefited from a temporary halt in hunting and natural recolonisation.

  • Viewpoint

    A 360 ° view from the crest of the Montagne de l'Arc

    At the end of the ascent, stop to admire the view! To the north-west you can see the Pierra Menta (2,714 m), with its enormous square spur. To the north, the Italian slope of Mont Blanc (4,809 m). On the opposite side of the Ponturin valley are the Aiguille Grive (2,732 m), the Aiguille Rouge (3,227 m) and Mount Pourri (3,423 m). And on your slope you will see Alliet (3,109 m), the entire north face of Bellecôte (3,417 m) and the Pointe de Friolin (2,678 m).

  • Geology

    The Pointe du Friolin and its rugged face

    Between 1982 and 1984, the fall of a whole face of the Friolin mountain mobilised 10 million cubic metres, two thirds of which fell in a few months. The municipality was then forced to follow up with the support of geologists. Their studies showed that this collapse stemmed from the presence of soluble underground rocks: the anhydrous calcium sulphate crystal, also known as anhydrite, which forms gypsum by rehydration when cropped out at the surface.

  • Lake

    Lac de l'Etroit

    As a reward for your efforts, this charming turquoise lake is unveiled only after the climb. It owes its origin to a depression dug out by a glacier as well as to the moraine deposits generated by their retreat. Numerous rocky boulders make this place an ideal location for a lunch break (but don’t forget to take your rubbish with you).

  • Fauna

    The black grouse

    The black grouse or “black cock” inhabits the upper limit of the mountain forests. In the spring, the males gather together in arenas before dawn, cooing and hooting, furling their tails in the shape of a lyre. Heavily impacted by the development of ski resorts, their habitat has been reduced to the benefit of the slopes. In winter, they spend 90% of their time at rest, huddled in a tunnel dug in the snow as the slightest disturbance can threaten their survival.

  • Fauna

    The hazel grouse

    The Hazel grouse is a rare galliform in Vanoise. This species is particularly fond of the mixed forests of Peisey-Nancroix on the mountain zone. It keeps a very low profile, including from a vocal point of view, the male emitting small high-pitched whistles. The hazel grouse is sedentary. To overcome the harshness of the winter climate and avoid the cold, it sinks into the snow just like the Rock Ptarmigan or the Black-tailed Grouse.