Drought Update

If you have been taking any notice of the contents of this blog, a couple of days ago I included two photographs, one showing Lac D'Orient three years ago and one today and questioned whether this was due to drought?  Well today we got the answer and no it isn't drought.

Apparently the three lakes that we are close to are all artificial and are designed to avoid the Seine flooding Paris and its environs by drawing off water during the rainy season from November to June.  It can draw off additional water if rains are particularly heavy during the Winter months.  Then from July to October when the Seine is low, they release the waters back into the river and hence the lack of water  in the lakes when we arrived.  Last time we were here was in June when the lakes were at their highest and of course now in September they are at their lowest. Everything has become clear and proves that these Frenchies are devilishly cunning. Photo attached shows the lake at its low point.