Ullswater

Ullswater
Ullswater from Pooley Bridge, 1989
Location	Lake District, England
Coordinates	54.5775°N 2.8751°W / 54.5775; -2.8751
Type	ribbon lake
Basin countries	United Kingdom
Max. length	11.8 km (7.3 mi)
Max. width	1.02 km (0.63 mi)
Surface area	8.9 km2 (3.4 sq mi)
Average depth	25.3 m (83 ft)
Max. depth	63 m (207 ft)
Water volume	223 x 106 m³
Residence time	350 days
Surface elevation	145 m (476 ft)
Settlements	Glenridding, Pooley Bridge

Lake steamer at Howtown Pier, Ullswater, circa 1895

Ullswater is the second largest lake in the English Lake District. It is about nine miles (14.5 kilometres) long and 0.75 miles (1,200 m), wide with a maximum depth of slightly more than 60 metres (197 ft).

Many regard Ullswater as the most beautiful of the English lakes, it has been compared to Lake Lucerne in Switzerland.

It is a typical Lake District narrow "ribbon lake" formed after the last ice age when a glacier scooped out the valley floor. When the glacier retreated, the deepened section became a lake.Three separate glaciers formed the lake. The surrounding mountains give Ullswater the shape of a stretched 'Z' with three distinct segments (or 'reaches') that wend their way through the surrounding hills.

For much of its length Ullswater forms the border between the ancient counties of Cumberland and Westmorland.

The village of Glenridding, at the southern end of the lake, is popular with tourists of all kinds. For mountain walkers, England's third highest mountain, Helvellyn and other challenging peaks are near the lake. The village has ample accommodation including two Youth Hostels and camp sites. The village of Pooley Bridge is at the northern end of the lake. Its narrow 16th-century bridge straddles the River Eamont as it flows out of Ullswater; it is overlooked by Dunmallard Hill, which was the site of an Iron Age fort. On the western side of the lake is Aira force waterfall. Near there the Brackenrigg Inn overlooks sweeping views of the dramatic landscape.