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:

* Bassenthwaite Lake
* Buttermere
* Coniston Water
* Crummock Water
* Derwent Water
* Devoke Water
* Ennerdale Water
* Grasmere
* Haweswater Reservoir
* Hayeswater
* Loweswater
* Rydal Water
* Thirlmere
* Ullswater
* Wast Water
* Windermere

The area is also somewhat mountainous by British standards, with several "fells" or "pikes" as they're colloquially known, including (in order of height):

1. Scafell Pike, 978 m / 3210 ft (England's highest point)
2. Scafell, 965 m / 3162 ft
3. Helvellyn, 951 m / 3118 ft
4. Skiddaw, 931 m / 3054 ft
5. Great End, 910 m / 2986 ft
6. Bowfell, 902 m / 2960 ft
7. Great Gable, 899 m / 2949 ft
8. Pillar, 892 m / 2926 ft
9. Nethermost Pike, 891 m / 2923 ft
10. Catstycam, 889 m / 2917 ft
11. Esk Pike, 885 m / 2903 ft
12. Raise (Lake District), 883 m / 2896 ft
13. Fairfield, 873 m / 2863 ft
14. Blencathra, 868 m / 2847 ft
15. Skiddaw Little Man, 865 m / 2837 ft
16. White Side, 863 m / 2831 ft
17. Crinkle Crags, 859 m / 2818 ft
18. Dollywaggon Pike, 858 m / 2815 ft
19. Great Dodd, 857 m / 2807 ft
20. Grasmoor, 852 m / 2795 ft
21. Stybarrow Dodd, 843 m / 2772 ft
22. St Sunday Crag, 841 m / 2759 ft
23. Scoat Fell, 841 m / 2759 ft
24. Crag Hill, 839 m / 2753 ft
25. High Street, 828 m / 2717 ft

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.

## External links[edit]

* Lake District National Park Authority
* Cumbria & Lake District Tourist Board