The Maury dam or dam of La Selva, in Viadène, is in the shape of a “V” located at the confluence of the Selves and the Selvet, very close to Saint-Amans-des-Côts. It supplies the Lardit hydroelectric power station, on La Truyère.
identity record
Lac de Maury also called Lac de la Selve or Lac de Saint-Amans-des-Cots, has an area of 167 hectares and a total capacity of 34,2 million cubic meters. This dam lake, V-shaped, is located at the confluence of the Selve and the Selvet, two mountain rivers that descend from the Aubrac plateau. This lake feeds the Lardit factory, located on the edge of La Truyère.
The construction of the hydroelectric complex
The Maury/Lardit hydroelectric complex includes an upper water reservoir (Lac de La Selve or Barrage de Maury) and the Lardit plant, on the banks of La Truyère. The publication of the declaration of public utility of the Lardit waterfall and the Maury dam was made in August 1936. The work of costs started in 1941, after the expropriations which took place in 1940. The work progressed slowly because of the years of war, and therefore of the problems of manpower, the lack of materials and food for the workers.
On the Maury dam site, there were workers from various backgrounds, of various nationalities. There were compulsory labor service (STO), Spaniards, Annamites (a majority ethnic group in Vietnam) and later German prisoners.
technical characteristics
| Maury Dam | Type: vault Height: 65 meters Length: 185 meters Year of impoundment: 1947 |
| Maury's restraint | Area: 167 hectares Capacity: 34,2 million cubic meters Rivers: the Selve and the Selvet |
| Lardit plant | Date of commissioning: 1947 Production groups: 2 Total power: 45 MW Production: this corresponds to the annual residential consumption of 46 inhabitants |
Production
La Selve Lake was filled with water in 1947 after the construction of the Maury arch dam, which is 65 meters high and 185 meters long. It feeds the Lardit hydroelectric power station located below and which is supplied with water by a 6 km long gallery extended by a 1 km penstock. This choice of layout made it possible to obtain a fall of 350 m.
With a power of 43 Megawatts, the Lardit power station is a link in the Lot-Truyère hydroelectric chain and produces the equivalent of the annual residential electricity consumption of 46 people.
Tourism
Maury Lake has allowed a significant development of tourism around Saint-Amans-des-Cots thanks to the many nautical activities that we practice on the lake.
nautical activities
Hydroelectric production has changed the economic climate by creating dams, major bodies of water and lakes, thus promoting the development of tourism: establishment of campsites, practice of nautical sports, full fishing....
The Lac de la Selve, despite its steep surroundings, welcomes several leisure centers to practice all kinds of nautical activities, from the most relaxing to the most sporty: swimming, fishing, pedal boats, dinghies, windsurfing, water skiing...
Fishing
In a setting of beauty that has remained wild, fishermen will be happy: at their disposal many lakes and second category rivers where you can fish pike, zander, trout, carp, tench … or first category rivers and a large network of streams where wild trout reign supreme.
Lac de la Selves, a 2nd category lake, with an area of 167 hectares, at the confluence of the Selves and the Selvet, is renowned for its carp and its populations of percids (perch and zander). Easily accessible at many points (forest track along the lake to the dam on the left bank), it is by boat that it will be the most pleasant to explore it.
Hiking
In Viadene, 16 hikes are marked. Departing from the village of La Capelle, two hikes are offered and run along part of the lake. If you are hikingMaury”, departing from Bes-Bédène, you will walk on the dam itself.
Accommodations
To land in Viadène, near this magnificent lake, several types of accommodation can accommodate you alone, as a couple, as a family or in a group.
