Lake Dist National Park

The Lake District

The Lake District National Park is found in north-west England. The area is mountainous, reaching as high as 966m in the centre. Steep-sided valleys radiate from the central mountains, and many of them contain deep lakes. The climate is harsh, with cold winters and cool summers. Population is sparse. The main economic activities are forestry, quarrying, farming and tourism.

1.
The landscape of the Lake District was created by glaciers during the ice age. The moving ice cut deep, U-shaped valleys. As they eroded they left steep cliffs along the valley sides and the valley floors were covered with rocky rubble.

Sometimes the ice eroded hollows into the valley floor. Water created as the ice melted filled the hollows to form lakes. Some of these lakes are still there but many have been filled in with silt and mud.

In the Lake District, the highest hills and slopes are known as 'the fells'. There are small lakes and boggy hollows. The ground is covered by poor grass and bracken which is known as rough grazing. In winter snow may lie for several months on the mountain tops.

4.
The steepest slopes on the valley sides remain wooded, because they are too steep for grazing. The valley floors offer the only land which can be cultivated. However, the soil is stony and often boggy, so it is more suitable for grazing animals than growing crops.

Farming is changing. It is hard work and difficult to earn enough money to live on. Many people, particularly young adults, leave the area. Farms have often been combined, and there are disused buildings like this barn. Many farmers are taking up other activities to increase their income. (this is called diversification)

In the 'stone age', people used the local stone to make axe-heads. Since the 19th century, stone has been quarried for building, and particularly for roofing slate. Nowadays only a small amount of stone is quarried, however, In some areas the destruction left by quarrying is a concern.

7.
Today, tourism is the main economic activity of the Lake District. This is a Youth Hostel - built especially to offer low-cost accommodation for young people. Elsewhere, camp-sites, caravan-sites, hotels and guest houses provide somewhere to stay.

8.
Some farms offer 'bed and breakfast' accommodation, and others have been converted into self-catering units. Tourism has been valuable because it has created some jobs in the area.

What do the road signs tell us about the suitability of this area for travellers ?

9. Some of the lakes are used for water sports. Windermere is the largest
freshwater lake in England, and is used for sailing, water-skiing and canoeing. The risk of water pollution and the noise and damage to the lakeshore means that these activities are strictly controlled. Other lakes are used for water supply - water is sent to Manchester and other urban areas in NW England from Haweswater and Thirlmere. The lakes help to attract tourists to the area.

10.

Of course, tourists do not only bring benefits to the area. The extra traffic on the roads is not welcome. There is a need for car-parks, which are unsightly. The narrow roads become congested. The air becomes polluted.

11.

Even on the mountains people cause problems. The feet of walkers have eroded and enlarged the paths. This accelerates the natural effects of mass-movement and running water, allowing the hillsides to be eroded. The most popular paths have had to be 'engineered' to repair the damage.