Lake District, region of mountains and lakes, c.30 mi (50 km) in diameter, NW England. It includes the Cumbrian Mts. and part of the Furness peninsula. The district comprises 15 lakes, among them Ullswater, Windermere, Derwentwater, and Bassenthwaite; several beautiful falls; and some of England's highest peaks—Scafell Pike (3,210 ft/978 m), Scafell, and Helvellyn. Many of the region's valleys were deforested following Roman and Norse invasions. Numerous ancient relics remain, such as the stone circle near Keswick and the ruins of old castles and churches. This scenic district is a favorite resort of artists and writers. William Wordsworth Wordsworth, William, 1770–1850, English poet, b. Cockermouth, Cumberland. One of the great English poets, he was a leader of the romantic movement in England.

Life and Works

In 1791 he graduated from Cambridge and traveled abroad.
..... Click the link for more information. , Samuel Taylor Coleridge Coleridge, Samuel Taylor, 1772–1834, English poet and man of letters, b. Ottery St. Mary, Devonshire; one of the most brilliant, versatile, and influential figures in the English romantic movement.
..... Click the link for more information. , and Robert Southey Southey, Robert (sou`thē, sŭth`ē), 1774–1843, English author.
..... Click the link for more information. were known as the Lake Poets. Herwick sheep, native to the region, are raised. Tourism is a major source of income. The Forestry Commission has actively planted pine trees in the district. Lake District National Park (c.80,000 acres/32,375 hectares) was established in 1951.

Lake District

Mountainous region, administrative county of Cumbria, northwestern England. Roughly coextensive with Lake District National Park, the country's largest, it occupies an area of 866 sq mi (2,243 sq km). It contains numerous lakes, including Windermere (England's largest), Grasmere, and Coniston Water, as well as England's highest mountains, the loftiest being Scafell Pike, which rises to 3,210 ft (978 m). The district was home to several English poets, including William Wordsworth, Robert Southey, and Samuel Taylor Coleridge, who celebrated its landscape. It became a national park in 1951.