Odysseus – Laurence Fischer

Scientists and the French association Odysseus 3.1, with presidents Yves Pacalet and Lionel Rard

Divers preparing to dive 50m deep in the Lake Geneva

A scientist is working on a sediment sample from the bottom of lake. Later, he will analyze it to look for chemicals.

Swiss lakes -so does Lake Genava- are facing a new threat: Quagga mussels. This invasive species, originally from the Black Sea, is spreading rapidly and gobbling up the food that fish need.

Two scientists from Geneva University are taking care of the sediment sample a diver gave them.

Live shells, grenades and bombs lie at the bottom of Lake Geneva in Switzerland… After the WWII, many countrie had a lot of ammunitions. A French diving association, Odysseus 3.1, and the Geneva University believe these munitions represent a real danger to the population and the environment. The Swiss Federal Department of Defence, Civil Protection and Sports (DDPS) stated that these dumped munitions do not release harmful substances and that their recovery is unnecessary. Last November, some divers went to the bottom of the lake (50m deep) to take some samples of mussels. These mussels, an invasive species, will be then analyzed.

It is estimated up to 1,500 tonnes of live ammunition were dumped into the lake between the late 1940s and 1960.