Windermere, England, UK
Posted by: Ursus PiPa
N 54° 21.780 W 002° 55.420
30U E 504959 N 6023913
Windermere is the largest natural lake in England.
Waymark Code: WMDTAX
Location: North West England, United Kingdom
Date Posted: 02/22/2012
Views: 15
Windermere, England,
UK
- Windermere is the largest natural lake in England.
- It is in the county of
Cumbria and
entirely within the
Lake District National Park. Windermere has also been the venue for the
Great North Swim since 2008.
- The word "Windermere" is thought to translate as "Vinandr's lake", from
the Old Norse name Vinandr and Old English mere, meaning lake.
- It is a
ribbon
lake formed in a glacial trough after the retreat of ice at the start of
the current interglacial. It was formed 13,000 years ago during the last major
ice age by two glaciers, one from the
Troutbeck valley and the other from the
Fairfield horseshoe. When the glaciers melted the lake filled with the
meltwater,
which was held in by
moraine
(rock material) deposited by the glacier.
- The lake is drained from its southernmost point by the
River Leven. It is replenished by the rivers
Brathay,
Rothay,
Trout
Beck,
Cunsey
Beck and several other lesser streams.
- The lake is largely surrounded by foothills of the Lake District which
provide pleasant low-level walks; to the north and north-east are the higher
fells of central Lakeland.
- The lake contains 18 islands. By far the largest is the privately owned
Belle Isle (16.18 hectares (40.0 acres)) lying opposite
Bowness and around a kilometre in length. The other islands or "holmes"
are considerably smaller. The word "holme" or "holm" means island and comes
from Old Norse.
- It has been one of the country’s most popular places for holidays and
summer homes since the arrival of the Kendal and Windermere Railway's branch
line in 1847.
Lake Type: Glacial lake
Coordinates location: Pier in Bowness
Max. Length: 18.08 kilometres (11.23 mi)
Max. Width: 1.49 kilometres (0.93 mi)
Max. Depth: 66.76 metres (219.0 ft)
Surface area: 14.73 square kilometres (5.69 sq mi) or 1,473 hectares (3,640 acres)
Parking / trail head: N 54° 21.920 W 002° 55.230
Website: [Web Link]
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