LAKE DISTRICT, in England, in the counties of Cumber land, Westmorland and Lancashire (Furness district), and con taining the principal English lakes. It is celebrated as a district of remarkable and strongly individual physical beauty. Its area is 700 sq.m.; in a circle, 3o m. in diameter, within which is the largest lake, Windermere, and the highest peak, Scafell Pike. A flat coastal belt, bordering the Irish sea, Morecambe bay and Solway firth, marks off the Lake District, while to the east the valleys of the Eden, and the Lune divide it from the Pennine mountain system. Geologically, it is individual. The periphery is of Carbon iferous limestones, Coal Measures and Trias sandstones, which structurally form a dome, the top of which has been removed by denudation revealing in the centre volcanic rocks and slates (Ordovician) with a belt of Silurian rocks in the south. Intrusions of igneous rocks, chiefly granites, at Eskdale, Skiddaw, Shap and Carrock Fell form important sources of excellent building stone. The radial drainage is obviously antecedent. There is a main north to south depression along the valleys of St. John, Thirl mere, Grasmere and Windermere, surmounting a pass (Dun mail Raise) of only 783 ft.; while a secondary depression runs parallel along Derwentwater, Borrowdale, Wasdale and Wast water, but here Styhead pass rises to 1,600 ft. The physical features have been greatly modified by glaciation, evidences of which occur on every hand. The principal features of the district may be indicated by following the circle round from north, by west, south and east.
it descends westward, beneath Honister Crags, into the valley containing Buttermere (94 ft. max. depth) and Crummock Water (144 ft.), drained by the Cocker. Between this and the Derwent the principal height is Grasmoor (2,791 ft.) ; southward a steep ridge (High Style, 2,643) divides it from Ennerdale, containing Ennerdale Water (148 ft., max. depth) which is fed by the Liza and drained by the Ehen. A splendid range separates this dale from Wasdale and Mosedale, including Great Gable ft.), Pillar (2,927) and Steeple (2,746). Wasdale Head between Gable and Scafell range, is peculiarly grand. On this side of Gable is Napes Needle. Wastwater is the deepest lake (258 ft.), its floor, like those of Windermere and Ullswater, sinking below sea level. East of Wasdale lies the range of Scafell (3,162 ft.), Scafell Pike (3,210), Lingmell (2,649) and Great End (2,984), continued over Esk Hause pass (2,49o) along Bow Fell (2,96o), Crinkle Crags (2,816) to the head of Eskdale and Wrynose pass (1,270), from which the Duddon runs south; while the range continues south to culminate in the Old Man of Coniston (2,633). Yewdale drains south to Coniston lake (51 m. long, 184 ft. max. depth) east of which a lower tract, containing Tarn Hows and Esthwaite Water, extends to Windermere (q.v.). This lake collects waters from Langdale between Bow Fell and Langdale Pikes (2,401 ft.) and from Dunmail Raise and the lakes of Grasmere and Rydal Water, east of which are Helvellyn (3,118 ft.) and Fairfield (2,863) with magnificent crags on the east side towards Grisedale and Patter dale. These dales drain to Ullswater (205 ft. max.) and so to the Eden. To the east lies the ridge named High Street (2,663 ft.), from the Roman road traceable along its summit, and sloping east again to Hawes Water (103 ft. max.) which, with Thirlmere, sup ply Manchester with water. Thirlmere drains north by St. John's Vale into the Gretna, north of which are Saddleback or Blencathra (2,847 ft.), and Skiddaw (3,054 ft.).