Lake Madine was artificially created to serve as a water reservoir for the city of Metz and its surroundings. Before its construction on the course of the Madine river, a series of hydrological studies made it possible to assess its necessary volume during severe periods of drought. The impoundment was completed in 1976, and a leisure center and a port were added a few years later. Today, Lake Madine is a renowned Lorraine location and a refuge for more than 250 bird species.