Madine Lake is the largest lake in Lorraine, covering 2,718 acres (1,100 ha) over the Meuse and Meurthe-et-Moselle departments. It was created to set up a drinking water reserve supplying the city of Metz and its surroundings. The lake constitutes a preserved site protected by the Natura 2 000 program since 2003. In 2008, it was also classified as an Important Zone for the Conservation of Birds (ZICO), being home to more than 250 avian species. It includes, among other things, black-headed gulls, crested lapwings, ospreys, falcons, and swans.