Lake Neuchâtel

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Lake Neuchâtel Lac de Neuchâtel
Lake Neuchâtel with lakes Biel and Murten in the background
Coordinates	46°54′N 6°51′ECoordinates: 46°54′N 6°51′E
Primary outflows	canal of Thielle
Catchment area	2,670 km²
Basin countries	Switzerland
Max length	38.3 km
Max width	8.2 km
Surface area	218.3 km²
Average depth	64.2 m
Max depth	152 m
Water volume	13.77 km³
Residence time (of lake water)	8.2 years
Surface elevation	429 m
Settlements	see list

Lake Neuchâtel (French: Lac de Neuchâtel; German: Neuenburgersee) is a lake in Western Switzerland (French-speaking Switzerland). The lake lies mainly in the canton of Neuchâtel, but is also shared by the cantons of Vaud, of Fribourg, and of Bern.

With a surface of 218.3 km², it is the largest lake entirely in Switzerland, as the larger Lake Geneva is shared with France and Lake Constance, German: Bodensee), with Germany and Austria. Lake Neuchâtel lies approximately at coordinates 46°54′N, 6°51′E. It is 38.3 km long and no more than 8.2 km large. Its surface is 429 m above sea-level, with a maximum depth of 152 m. The total water volume is 14.0 km³ and drainage area approximatively of 2,670 km².

The lake receives the Orbe River (called Thielle or Thièle from the city of Orbe onwards), the Arnon, the Areuse (which traverses the Val de Travers), Seyon (flowing through the Val de Ruz), the canal de la Sauge (which drains Lake Morat/Murten and receives the Broye River), and the Mentue (at Yvonand). The canal of Thielle (or Zihlkanal in German) drains the lake into Lake Biel-Bienne and is part of regulation system for the lakes and the rivers of the Seeland region.