Lakes of the Lake District
The Lakes provide the greatest charm of the Lake District, and indeed its name. These are the shining waters delighting the dale bottoms across the mountain fastness spread across Cumberland, Westmorland and Lancashire North of the Sands. They have been drawing visitors since the Victorians and it is from these waters that Cumberland and Westmorland are known as "the Lake Counties", or "Lakeland".
Amongst all the lakes, only one is actually named "Lake", namely Bassenthwaite Lake, while the others bear the title "Mere" or "Water", while the little lakes high on fell slopes are known as tarns, from the Norse word ‘’tjørn’’, but now a word thoroughly native.
Major lakes
The largest of the lakes is Windermere, on the border of Lancashire with Westmorland, a lake of 5.7 square miles (3,642 acres), 11 miles long.
The ten largest of the lakes, all but one a square mile and more, are:
| Name | County | Area | Volume | Mean depth (ft) | Max. depth (ft) | Surface elev. (ft) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Windermere | Lancashire and Westmorland | 5.7 sq miles | 69,180 million gal | 70 feet | 201 feet | 128 feet |
| Ullswater | Cumberland and Westmorland | 3.4 sq miles | 49,053 million gal | 83 feet | 207 feet | 476 feet |
| Derwent Water | Cumberland | 2.1 sq miles | 6,379 million gal | 18 feet | 72 feet | 246 feet |
| Bassenthwaite Lake | Cumberland | 2 sq miles | 6,137 million gal | 17 feet | 62 feet | 223 feet |
| Coniston | Lancashire | 1.9 sq miles | 24,922 million gal | 79 feet | 184 feet | 143 feet |
| Haweswater | Westmorland | 1.5 sq miles | 16,849 million gal | 77 feet | 187 feet | 807 feet |
| Thirlmere | Cumberland | 1.3 sq miles | 11,548 million gal | 53 feet | 151 feet | 584 feet |
| Ennerdale Water | Cumberland | 1.2 sq miles | 11,702 million gal | 58 feet | 138 feet | 368 feet |
| Crummock Water | Cumberland | 1 sq mile | 14,606 million gal | 88 feet | 144 feet | 321 feet |
| Esthwaite Water | Lancashire | 0.4 sq mile | 1,407 million gal | 21 feet | 51 feet | 214 feet |
The lakes
Cumberland
Cumberland / Westmorland
| Name | OS grid ref | Area (acres) | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Three Tarns | NY248060 | Between Bowfell and Crinkle Crags | |
| Ullswater | NY440204 |
Lancashire
Lancashire / Westmorland
| Name | OS grid ref | Area (acres) | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elter Water | NY333042 | The very northernmost point of Lancashire | |
| Helton Tarn | SD419849 | On the River Winster NW of Witherslack | |
| Windermere | SD395989 |