This lake owes its existence to the Tartaret volcano, one of Auvergne's youngest, which stopped the flow of the Couze when it erupted. This vast (60ha) but shallow (12m) reservoir has an attractive setting, which is beautiful at sunset. Dotted with islets, it has deep-cut banks, except to the north where the D996 skirts its banks, and to the south-east, where a beach has been created. The rocky needle rising up to the north of the lake is known as the Saut de la Pucelle, or Virgin’s Leap (100m).