Lake Serre-Ponçon, known as the ‘Sea in the Mountains,’ was formed in 1961, when the Durance River was dammed to help prevent flooding in nearby communities. It’s considered one of the largest manmade lakes in Europe and is a major source of hydroelectric power, irrigation, and tourism. The historic Chapel of St. Michel, established in 1020 and rebuilt in the 17th century, survived the flooding of the valley—but it became an island destination in the process.
Chapel of St. Michel on Lake Serre-Ponçon, Hautes-Alpes, France
Today in History
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March of the flowers
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Summer winds down in the Southern Hemisphere
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Summer winds down in the Southern Hemisphere
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Finding a balance between wetlands and water treatment
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Lake Tekapo, New Zealand
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Terraced rice fields, Yuanyang County, China
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Roques de Benet, Els Ports Natural Park, Catalonia, Spain
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Plum blossoms in China
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The Brocken, Harz National Park, Germany
More Desktop Wallpapers:
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Jaguar in the Pantanal wetlands
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International Day of Peace
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The Lena Delta Wildlife Reserve in Siberia, Russia
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Smithsonian Secretary Lonnie Bunch on the institution s 175th anniversary
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Celebrating 30 years of eye-opening images
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Vasco da Gama Bridge, Lisbon, Portugal
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Lake Bled, Slovenia
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The Grand Départ: Tour de France begins
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It’s National Dolphin Day!
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Museum Night in Berlin
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Endangered Species Day
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Feast of the Donkey
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Lobster tales
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International Geodiversity Day
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Coming home to roost
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Illuminations on the Gulf of Poets
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Who created the Easter Bunny?
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Three Natural Bridges, Wulong Karst, China
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The Monastery of Roussanou, Greece
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World Dolphin Day
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Kluane National Park
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Christmas tree at Crystal Pier, San Diego, California
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Old City of Dubrovnik in Dalmatia, Croatia
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Málaga, Spain
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Saffron in bloom
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Winter in Old Nuuk
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Happy Father s Day
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Invisible no longer
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Groundhog Day
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Whangārei Falls in New Zealand
Bing Wallpaper Gallery

