The Sainte-Croix Lake (Holy Cross Lake) was created by the construction of the dam of the same name which blocked the course of the Verdon river. It is part of the large hydroelectric schemes in Provence which aim to produce abundant energy, as well as to regulate the flow of waterways and ensure the water supply of the large towns and cities on the coast. The arched dam was constructed in the 1970s and resulted in the flooding and drowning of the entire valley downstream from the Grandes Gorges. It covered the Roman bridge and the natural water-spring at the Fontaine l'Evêque Fountain (The Bishop's Fountain).

Today, the Sainte-Croix Lake contributes to the tourist attraction of the Geopark with its integration into the landscape and by the aquatic leisure activities it provides.