Lots probably.... But one forgets the lake is just the "fat bit" of the River Rhone... and so the flood gates get opened to keep the levels at a fair constant... after that its France's problem ....

Cool, well didnt know about the flood gates so then technically the lake doesnt rise as its not really allowed to.

So then is it just a case of if it rains 5 cms then, if allowed, the lake would simply raise 5cms?  That sounds like a stupid question, however am thinking perhaps its not that simple.

Who will explain the snow???

Cheers

well the Rhone is fed from Valais...which has alot more snow, that isnt currently melting as it is here, which flows into the lake up by Villeneuve.

Equally the lake has an exit... under the Pont du Mont Blanc... where it becomes the Rhone again... so floodwater doesnt get trapped here so often, unless someone blocks the Rhone...

Bear in mind the billions of dollars worth of property along the lake ... and you know why levels are more often than not controlled well by the Swiss.

http://lhe.epfl.ch/index-en.html

These smart guys and gals could school ya...EPFL ...

As  for who will explain the snow, see a previous post where a UK professor explains this form of precipitation...

Cheers, Translator aka S. Marty Pants..

Damn resizer; here's the link:

http://etat.geneve.ch/dt/SilverpeasWebFileServer/Plaquette_-_Le_niveau_du_L%C3%A9man_varie.pdf?ComponentId=kmelia181&SourceFile=1204901157635.pdf&MimeType=application/pdf&Directory=Attachment/Images/

The lake level dropped by about 50cm over the past 2 weeks (it was clearly noticable when we dived in Hermance last Sunday). The solid component of the water budget (snow) dominates run-off and drainage into the lake, so the volume of water reaching the lake, per unti time, drops. The surface level of the lake will rise dramatically once all the snow melts.

OMG, we have a winning response, thanks Spikings!

Big thanks for those explaining the mystery which was

My pleasure - although that may all be bollocks (it isnt).

Just curious -- is there a marker or markers somewhere?  I seem to remember some one telling me about  one but can't remember where....Or is there another way the level is measured...

Second, how cold does it have to  be before you decide it's too cold  to dive?

I admit: I like the style of this Clint guy.

Translator - quick answer: no idea about markers! I guess there might be some markers on the flood gates, or on the jetties where the ferries dock. However, it was fairly obvious in Hermance last Sunday that the lake level had dropped, relative to the two previous weeks.

As for diving - no minimum temperature! We dive in dry suits so just jump in, sun, rain, snow or ice. Some of us use wet suits, but I think last Sunday convinced them they need to buy dry suits - it was bloody freezing (I now have the flu as a result, which i'm extremely pleased about). Want to join us???

There were some lunatics swimming in the lake last night (swimming costumes...after a "run")... mad as a box of frogs the lot of 'em....

I'll tell you what, to get me in the water before June and after September I'd need to be pursued by a pack of drooling Rottweilers ....

Join you with the flu? Hmm....have to think about that..

What can you see down there?  Anything?  I

Err, opening a can of worms for sure and stupid to ask, but what would the training consist of?

and here we enter the realms of the "dating thread" again...

can see..."Loads of other freezing people, who will, in time, also get the flu!"

Putting this frequent poster at the bottom of a frozen lake might be on the Xmas wish list for some people around here...

Practice in biting sarcasm, appropriate use of irony, googling obscure facts, and submitting you tube videos... plus the occassional rant about topic of your choice.  Someone will then tell you to shut-the-fuck-up to which you will find a witty, irritating and annoying riposte...

But  you've got my vote for Glocals Newcomer of the year...

As Montgomery Burns says, "Who is that young man, Smithers?  I like the cut of his jib!"

> Does anyone know, or would have a good guess on how much the Lake has risen with all the recent snow and rain?

Not much.  It's always at the level of the ducks' belly.

Usual stuff such as discarded bikes, dead fish, rather a lot of mud, the occasiaonal decomposed rat and other divers wondering what the fu*k they are doing there. All-in-all, lake Geneva represents strong competition for the Red Sea or Galapagos.

Training consists of forking out a consicerable amount of cash to pay for a load of gear, followed by diving in a pool, and subsequent diving in the lake..... It's great fun, really. Total of five training dives and some theory, it isn't difficult.

However....it IS difficult to coerce your testacles out of your throat after swimming in that freezing water...

Lucking lollypops batman, what's the prize?

You will receive a little statuette as well as some stalkers --- Charlie can fill you in on the latter...

Sounds really interesting...and besides no sharks, like off the coast of Egypt.   I will let you know after I learn how to swim.

In the meantime, maybe some of us can be there with a Saint Bernard dog, some cognac and coffee when you surface, like Neptune, from the murky depths.

Usually only 50% of the divers who enter the water, leave the water. The remaining 50% are still down there, and they are usually the beginners. That's fine though because it means we can take their car and other belongings, which works out well for the experienced divers because I need a new car.