The crest of the Vosges served as the borderline between France and Germany before WWI. The boundary-stones are still there. In the background the Hohneck is seen with the restaurant on top.
The westerly winds can build up enormous snow drifts over the steep eastern slopes that are dangerous to the unaware ski-tourist.
On the eastern side some artificial lakes were built. This one, Lac Blanc or White Lake, is a natural lake serving as the upper reservoir of a hydropower plant. During night the water is pumped up from the lower Lac Noir (Black Lake) using excessive electrical power, which is then spent later to fill energy gaps in the rush hours of the day.
As was said before, the Vosges appeared to be wilder compared with the Black Forest on the other side of the Rhine. This, however, is my own judgement made during only a single short trip to these mountain ranges. Another trip to the Black Forest is already planned, although not yet scheduled.
The Hohneck with 1,313 m is one of the highest summits of the Vosges. The rounded top doesn't appear as a mountain in this photograph.