Roving reporter Nicola interviewed Happy Lac d’Annecy from its perialpine location in Haute-Savoie, France.  

I like to talk with the mountains because they are my best friends. They fill me with fresh waters from their small running rivers and cool me with their snow. I like to speak to the sun because it warms me in the summer.

I also really enjoy being able to quench the thirst of the people of this region. They drink my waters all the time because I’m the cleanest lake in all of Europe. 60 years ago people decided to protect me with environmental regulations to ensure my waters remain pure.

Happy Lac d’Annecy speaks

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I have a beautiful firework display every August 4th to celebrate my birthday. I don't know when I was born but people decided on that date to celebrate me.

I’m happy ’cause I’m able to share

People love me.  They dive into my fresh waters. They surf on me, they boat on me and do other water sports. They can even fish. When you go deep inside of me, I'm dark, you cannot see through me under water. I go hundreds of meters deep down.

There’s a hidden treasure 42 meters deep inside of me. An old famous boat called La France that sank. My other treasure is an island just for swans. Some king - I don’t know who and I don’t know from where - came with a swan and an island was created in the middle of me. A special place where the swans can live and reproduce. Nobody steps onto the island. It’s a sanctuary just for swans.


Lac d’Annecy was interpreted by

Pierre de Pingon, co-founder of a start-up that makes furniture and objects out of waste material.  Pierre grew up on the shores of Lac d’Annecy.

Pierre speaks to Lac d’Annecy  

You’re my mother.  I love you so much. I'm sorry I couldn't swim in you this year. It’s the first time in my life I didn't swim in your waters.

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Pierre was invited by Nicola Gale at a biotech event in London, England when he was 3D printing a vase made from mushrooms and waste.

Cover photo edited. Original by Nicola.