Ullswater

The Ullswater is the second largest lake in the English Lake District. It is approximately 14.5 miles long and 1,200 feet wide, with an average depth of 60 meters.

Description

Many regard Ullswater as the most beautiful of the English lakes and compare it to the Lake Lucerne in Switzerland. The long "ribbon" -like shape of the lake is typical of the lakes of the Lake District. It was formed by the glaciers of the last ice age will, undermining the valley floor. Due to the meltwater of the glacier, the resulting cavity filled with water. Due to the surrounding mountains of Ullswater takes the form of an elongated Z and is divided into three segments, the so-called divided Reaches.

The origin of the name Ullswater is unknown. On the one hand, it is assumed that the name is derived from a Norse chieftain named Ulf who ruled over this area. On the other hand, there was a Saxon Lord of Greystoke called Ulphus, whose country reached to the lake.

The village Glennridding lies at the southern end of the lake. It serves as a starting point for hikes on England's third highest mountain, Helvellyn, and many other worthwhile summit. The village of Pooley Bridge is located at the northern end of the lake. His narrow bridge from the 16th century over the Eamont, which flows from the Ullswater is overlooked by the Iron Age Fort Dunmallard Hill. On a large part of its length of Ullswater forms a natural boundary between the traditional counties of Cumberland and Westmorland.

One of the biggest attractions of the lake are the " Lake Steamer ", the trips between Pooley Bridge, Glenridding and Howtown perform in summer. These steamers are original postal cargo and passenger ships from the 1850s supplied the Greenside Lead Mine, in 1962, closed down operations. Today, drive three steamers on Ullswater: the "Raven", the " Lady of the Lake " and the " Lady Dorothy ". In the summer it is very popular to take the ferry from Howtown after Glennridding and then return along the lake shore on one of the most popular and scenic trails of the Lake District.

The sailing on Ullswater is also very popular, and around the lake there are several marinas. Also you can find here opportunities for boating, water skiing and motor boating. Another attraction of the Aira Force Ullswater is a spectacular waterfall midway on the western shore of the lake. Part of the Ullswater is situated within the territory of the National Trust.

Sir Donald Campbell presented here on July 23, 1955 a new world speed record on water, as he quickened his turbine -powered " hydroplane " " Bluebird K7 " at 325.53 km / h ( 202.32 mph ).

Just south of Pooley Bridge is located on the east side of the lake Eusemere where the anti-slavery activist Thomas Clarkson (1760-1846) lived. From this house you have one of the best views of the lower " reach" of Ullswater. William and Dorothy Wordsworth were friends of Clarkson and visited him on many occasions, what Wordsworth in April 1802 his poem " Daffodils " ( daffodils ) inspired, after seeing this on the shores of Ullswater. Wordsworth once wrote of Ullswater: "it is the happiest combination of beauty and grandeur, Which any of the lakes affords " ( He is the happiest combination of beauty and splendor that offers some of the lakes ).