title: Lac du Val-Joly
text: # Lac du Val-Joly
  
  The Lac du Val-Joly is an artificial lake in France, constructed before the 1970s.
  
  Located 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) from the Belgian border, and close to Willies in the Nord département, 183 metres (600 ft) asl on the course of the Helpe Majeure, a tributary of the Sambre.
  
  It was created with a dam to help regulate the flow of the Helpe Majeure, and also as a hydropower source, and as a source of water to cool the old thermal power station, Pont-sur-Sambre.
  
  The lake has many species of fauna (some introduced by humans), and is currently classified as a Special Area of Conservation.
  
  