The Lake District is an area of Cumbria in northern England noted for its large number of lakes and its outstanding natural beauty, one of the 14 National Parks in the United Kingdom. The Lake District is also an important cultural landscape, having inspired writers as diverse as the 'Lake Poets' (William Wordsworth, Robert Southey and Samuel Taylor Coleridge), and the author Beatrix Potter.
The main bodies of water in the Lake District include:
The area is also somewhat mountainous by British standards, with several "fells" or "pikes" as they're colloquially known, including (in order of height):
Due to the beautiful scenery, the Lake District is a popular tourist destination, particularly for walkers or climbers. However, some fear that the tourist industry is having a negative impact on the area, causing picturesque villages to become tacky to cater to tourists. There is also concern about a decreasing amount of homes available for locals, as it is popular to buy a second home in the area for holidays.