Alton Water facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Alton Water |
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The reservoir is used for a variety of water sports.
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 Alton Water
Location in Suffolk
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| Location | Suffolk |
| Coordinates | 51°58′50″N 1°8′0″E / 51.98056°N 1.13333°E |
| Type | reservoir |
| Basin countries | United Kingdom |
| Surface area | 400 acres (160 ha) |
| Max. depth | 20 m (66 ft) |
Alton Water (also called Alton Reservoir) is a large lake made by people. It is the biggest lake in Suffolk, England. The edge of the lake is more than 8 miles (13 km) long.
How Alton Water Was Built
In the 1960s, people in the Ipswich area needed more water. So, they looked at twenty possible places to build a new lake. Alton was chosen as the best spot.
The land where Alton Water now sits was mostly farms. There was also an old mill and a large house called Alton Hall. The mill was carefully taken apart. Then, it was rebuilt at the Museum of East Anglian Life in Stowmarket.
It took 13 years to build Alton Water and fill it with water. The lake officially opened in 1987. Water flows into Alton Water from the River Gipping. It also gets water from underground wells near the River Orwell.
There is a special building below the dam that cleans the water. It can clean up to 10 million imperial gallons (45,000 m3) of water every day! Most of this clean water, about 85% to 95%, goes to Ipswich and Felixstowe. It travels through the Wherstead reservoir and under the Orwell Bridge. The rest of the water goes to villages on the Shotley Peninsula and in south Suffolk.
What Alton Water Is Used For
Alton Water is not just for drinking water. It's also a popular place for many fun activities:
- Fishing: In the 1980s and 1990s, Alton Water was one of the best places for fishing competitions. Many large groups of bream and roach fish lived there.
- Sailing and Watersports: People love to go sailing and do other watersports on the lake.
- Birdwatching: Many different kinds of birds visit Alton Water. It's a great spot for people who enjoy watching birds.
- Great East Swim: This is a big event where many people swim in the open water of the lake.
