Lake Etang de la Gruère – a jewel in the Franches Mountains
The popular excursion destination of Lake Etang de la Gruère is a mire lake near Saignelégier. It provides habitats for numerous animal and plant species in a region otherwise low on water courses. The lake is surrounded by the characteristic wooded pastures (Wytweiden) of the Franches Mountains.
Lake Etang de la Gruère in the Franches Mountains (Franches-Montagnes; French: “Free Mountains”) of the canton of Jura is a popular excursion destination. Geologically, the idyllic mire lake is located in a compact marl-lined basin. This is unique in the mainly water-permeable high lime plateau of the Franches Mountains.
Due to its location on a raised mire, the lake’s water is brown in colour. It offers a rare habitat to animal species which depend on open water, including, in particular, dragonflies and some butterfly and beetle species.
The Etang de la Gruère is surrounded by the characteristic wooded pastures (Wytweiden) of the Franches Mountains. These are mosaic-style formations of pastures and tree groups. The wooded pastures are used in both the grazing of animals and production of wood. The species-rich and ecologically valuable wooded pastures are under threat from the abandonment of traditional pasture use; when not used for grazing, the forest increasingly encroaches on the pastureland.
Due to its location on a raised mire, the lake’s water is brown in colour. It offers a rare habitat to animal species which depend on open water, including, in particular, dragonflies and some butterfly and beetle species.
The Etang de la Gruère is surrounded by the characteristic wooded pastures (Wytweiden) of the Franches Mountains. These are mosaic-style formations of pastures and tree groups. The wooded pastures are used in both the grazing of animals and production of wood. The species-rich and ecologically valuable wooded pastures are under threat from the abandonment of traditional pasture use; when not used for grazing, the forest increasingly encroaches on the pastureland.
Nature reserves and landscape protection areas
A large part of this area is listed, inter alia, in the following federal inventories:
Other links
A large part of this area is listed, inter alia, in the following federal inventories:
- Federal Inventory of Landscapes and Natural Monuments of National Importance (BLN) (BLN object no 1008 “Franches-Montagnes”)
More - Inventory of Mire Landscapes (object no 7 “Etang de la Gruère”)
More - Interactive map browser displaying the object included in the BLN (available in German and French)
More
Other links
- All of the federal Swiss inventories can be displayed on an interactive map using this map browser (available in German and French)
More - Detailed information on the effects of outdoor sport and leisure activities on nature (available in German and French)
More - Information (in French) on the Les Cerlataz nature conservation centre
More
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