This stretch of water is a vestige from the last ice age 6,000 years ago. At category 2 lake, it is home to pike, carp and trout. The site was listed in 2012 as a Sensitive Natural Area of the Hautes-Alpes. An inventory study was commissioned by the municipality of Saint-André d'Embrun in collaboration with the regional conservatory for natural areas, CEN PACA, and its results showed significant diversity, with 350 species of plants, 110 species of insects and 52 species of birds.