View source for Eau d'Heure lakes

{{short description|Complex of five artificial lakes in Belgium}}
{{Infobox lake
| name = Eau d'Heure lakes
| image = Barrages de l'Eau d'Heure; Lac de l'Eau d'heure vu du barrage de Falemprise.jpg
| caption = 
| image_bathymetry = 
| caption_bathymetry = 
| location = 
| coords = {{coord|50|11|01|N|04|22|10|E|type:waterbody_region:BE|display=inline,title}}
| type = artificial lake
| inflow = 
| outflow = 
|pushpin_map=Belgium
| catchment = 
| basin_countries = {{flag|Wallonia}}, [[Belgium]]
| length = {{convert|4|km|abbr=on}}
| width = {{convert|2|km|abbr=on}}
| area = {{convert|6.17|km2|abbr=on}}
| depth = 
| max-depth = {{convert|43|m|abbr=on}}
| volume = {{convert|86,000,000|m3|acre.ft|abbr=on}}
| residence_time = 
| shore = {{convert|50|km|abbr=on}}
| elevation = {{convert|243|m|abbr=on}}
| frozen = 
| islands = 1
| cities = [[Cerfontaine, Belgium|Cerfontaine]]
| reference = 
}}

The '''Eau d'Heure lakes''' ({{langx|fr|lacs de l'Eau d'Heure}}) is a complex of five artificial lakes in [[Wallonia]], forming the largest lake area in [[Belgium]].

The dams were built during the 1970s. The lakes are not far from the village of [[Cerfontaine, Belgium|Cerfontaine]], {{convert|50|km|mi}} south of the city of [[Charleroi]], and the border with [[France]]. They are within the municipalities of [[Cerfontaine, Belgium|Cerfontaine]] ([[Namur (province)|province of Namur]]) and [[Froidchapelle]] ([[Hainaut (province)|province of Hainaut]]).

The primary river feeding the lakes is the [[Eau d'Heure]]. There are five dams and one hydro-electric power station.
The largest lake, the ''Lac de la Plate Taille'', is itself the largest single lake in the country, at {{convert|3.74|km2|mi2}}, while together the lakes have a surface area of {{convert|6.17|km2|mi2}}.

It is a popular tourist attraction, with water sports, including fishing, [[kayak]]ing, diving and [[windsurfing]].

The five lakes are:
* ''Lac de l'Eau d'Heure'', the central lake of the complex
* ''Lac de Falemprise'', a medium-sized lake to the south-east
* ''Lac de Féronval'', a small lake at the north end of Lac de l'Eau d'Heure
* ''Lac de la Plate Taille'', the largest lake at {{convert|3.74|km2|mi2}}, at the south-west of the group
* ''Lac du Ry Jaune'' (sometimes spelled ''Ri Jaune''), a small lake on the east side

==References==
* [http://www.lacsdeleaudheure.be/ Official Website]
* [http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/sectors/tourism/eden/themes-destinations/countries/belgium/les-lacs-de-leau-dheure Awarded "EDEN - European Destinations of Excellence" non traditional tourist destination 2010]

==External links==
* {{Commons category-inline}}
* {{portal-inline|Lakes}}
* [https://archives.wallonie.be/ark:/44119/968d4wq1x5bv'' Installations inside the Plate Taille dam, photographs of 1992.] from the Site of the Walloon regional archives (fr).
* [https://archives.wallonie.be/ark:/44119/pwb97zx3rj41 Site of the Walloon regional archives. Inside the Eau d'Heure dams. Pictures from 1997]

{{Attached KML}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Eau D'heure Lakes}}
[[Category:Reservoirs in Belgium]]
[[Category:Lakes of the Ardennes (Belgium)]]
[[Category:Lakes of Hainaut (province)]]
[[Category:Lakes of Namur (province)]]
[[Category:Sambre basin|REau D'heure]]
[[Category:Cerfontaine, Belgium]]
[[Category:Froidchapelle]]