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Large reserves of water

In Switzerland, about 200 water reservoirs provide more than 30 per cent of electricity consumed.

With its mountains and considerable rainfall, Switzerland has ideal conditions for harnessing hydropower. Built since the late 19th century, hydroelectric plants increased in particular between 1945 and 1970. In addition to providing energy, artificial lakes serve several other purposes: the regulation of river water, flood reduction, the supply of water for irrigation, fish farms and so on.

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SWI swissinfo.ch - a branch of Swiss Broadcasting Corporation SRG SSR