Kentmere Tarn or Lake?

 
Of course, most people announce there is only one lake in Lakeland and then inform the available audience that only Bassenthwaite is actually a named lake, the rest being meres, waters etc.  However, although I read Paul's article with enthusiasm back in the winter of 2003, even I didn't agree with his designation of sixteen lakes.  As the editor I remember writing Brothers' Water in brackets thereby making 17.  Could Devoke Water make one more?

In essence, as David suggests, one could debate for a very long time about the variables which make a tarn a tarn or a lake a lake.  Briefly and this is where a more scientific geographical definition comes in, what defines the valley lakes of Cumbria is their ecology.  Deeper water at lower altitude creates a completely different ecological system compared to shallower water with fewer tributaries at higher altitude.  The valley lakes were essentially the product of overdeepening caused by valley glaciers.  In this way Brothers' Water is a lake in that it is the remnants of a much larger valley system that would have at one time combined with Ullswater in the same way Buttermere would have formed a much larger lake with Crummock Water. Devoke Water is more akin to a high mountain tarn than say, Coniston Water.  Having said that however, its size lends itself to demonstrate characteristics more familiar in a valley lake.  David also correctly identifies the fact that Devoke Water is at a similar altitude to Hawewater which would not be ignored as being a lake.  The fisherman in David's photographs demonstrates that the water here is fit to support a healthy population of larger fish.  As David correctly suggested, tjorn comes from Old Norse for a small mountain lake.  Indeed, one could argue that the Old English waeter (water) or word for lake is perfectly in fitting for Devoke Water.  In fact, Devoke Water probably has all the attributes to make it a lake. 

Esthwaite Water

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