Wast Water
Wast Water or Wastwater is a lake located in Wasdale, a valley in the western part of the Lake District National Park, England. The lake is almost long and more than wide. It is a glacial lake, formed in a glacially "over-deepened" valley. It is the deepest lake in England at. The surface of the lake is about above sea level, while its bottom is over below sea level. It is considered relatively clear. It is owned by the National Trust.
Toponymy
The name Wast Water is a reduced form of Wasdale Water, referring to the valley in which the lake lies. The name Wasdale itself comes from the Old Norse Vatnsdalr, meaning "valley of the lake".Surroundings
The head of the Wasdale Valley is surrounded by some of the highest mountains in England, including Scafell Pike, Great Gable and Lingmell. The steep slopes on the southeastern side of the lake, leading up to the summits of Whin Rigg and Illgill Head, are known as the "Wastwater Screes" or on some maps "The Screes". These screes formed as a result of ice and weathering erosion on the rocks of the Borrowdale Volcanic Group, that form the fells to the east of the lake, towards Eskdale. They are approximately, from top to base, the base being about below the surface of the lake.A path runs the length of the lake, through the boulders and scree fall at the base of the craggy fell-side. On the northwestern side are the cliffs of Buckbarrow and the upturned-boat shape of Yewbarrow. Wast Water is the source of the River Irt which flows into the Irish Sea near Ravenglass.
Both the lake and Wasdale Screes are protected as Sites of Special Scientific Interest and under European Union law as Special Areas of Conservation.
Points of interest
The Lady in the Lake
In 1976, the "Wasdale Lady in the Lake", Margaret Hogg, was murdered by her husband and her body was disposed of in the lake. She was found after eight years, with her body preserved like wax due to the lack of oxygen in the water.Underwater gnomes
In February 2005 it was reported that a "gnome garden" complete with picket fence had been placed in the lake as a point of interest for divers to explore. It was removed from the bottom of Wastwater after three divers died in the late 1990s. It is thought the divers spent too much time too deep searching for the ornaments. Police divers report a rumour that the garden had been replaced at a depth beyond the lowest the police were allowed to dive.PC Kenny McMahon, a member of the North West Police Underwater Search Unit, said
Water extraction
Water was first pumped from the lake during World War II to supply the Royal Ordnance Factory at Drigg. It is pumped to the nearby Sellafield nuclear facility as an industrial water supply. The Nuclear Decommissioning Authority is allowed to extract from the lake a maximum of a day to use on that site.Favourite view
On 9 September 2007, Wast Water was announced as the winner of a vote to determine "Britain's Favourite View" by viewers of ITV.Tributaries
Clockwise from River Irt- Countess Beck
- Smithy Beck
- Goat Gill
- Nether Beck
- Over Beck
- Mosedale Beck
- Lingmell Beck
- Hollow Gill
- Straighthead Gill
In literature