Bewl Water facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Bewl Water |
|
|---|---|
Bewl Water
|
|
 Bewl Water
Location in Kent
|
|
| Location | Kent/East Sussex |
| Coordinates | 51°04′12″N 0°23′42″E / 51.06997°N 0.39508°E |
| Lake type | reservoir |
| Basin countries | United Kingdom |
Bewl Water is a huge man-made lake, known as a reservoir. It sits in the beautiful valley of the River Bewl. This special lake is right on the border between Kent and East Sussex in England. It's about 3 kilometers (2 miles) south of a town called Lamberhurst.
Bewl Water was built to help provide drinking water to many homes and businesses. It supplies water to places like the Medway towns, Thanet, and Hastings. Other water companies in the area also use its water.
Contents
Building Bewl Water
Building Bewl Water was a big job! Work started in 1973. Engineers built a large dam across the valley. This dam then allowed the valley to fill with water. The reservoir was finished in 1975. It holds over 31,300 million liters of water! The whole project cost about £11 million to build. Today, Bewl Water is the largest inland body of water in the south east of England.
How Bewl Water Works
In winter, when the River Medway has lots of water, some of it is pumped into Bewl Water. This helps store water for drier times. There are plans to make the reservoir even bigger. This would mean raising the water level by 3 meters (about 10 feet). This would help provide up to 30% more water for the growing number of people in south-east England.
Wildlife at Bewl Water
Like most large, clean lakes, Bewl Water is home to many different kinds of wildlife. You can often spot various birds and other animals living around and in the water.
Fun Activities at Bewl Water
Bewl Water is a popular spot for many outdoor activities. You can enjoy lots of fun things on and around the lake:
- Sailing and Windsurfing: People love to sail and windsurf here.
- Rowing and Sculling: There are clubs for rowing and sculling.
- Canoeing and Kayaking: You can also go canoeing or kayaking.
- Fishing: It's a great place for trout fishing.
- Walking and Cycling: There's a 20-kilometer (12.5-mile) path that goes all the way around the reservoir. It's perfect for walking or cycling.
The Bewl Water Outdoor Centre offers many exciting training and adventure activities. These take place both on the water and around it. There is also a passenger boat that offers tours. You can find a restaurant, a place for meetings, and a gift shop too.
