Glaslyn facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Glaslyn |
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Looking east from Snowdon: Glaslyn at bottom, Llyn Llydaw above
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 Glaslyn
Location in Snowdonia
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| Location | Snowdon, Wales |
| Coordinates | 53°4′14″N 4°3′58″W / 53.07056°N 4.06611°W |
| Basin countries | United Kingdom |
Glaslyn (which means "Blue Lake" in Welsh) is a beautiful lake located in the Snowdonia National Park in north-west Wales. It's a special place, known for its stunning mountain views and interesting old stories.
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About Glaslyn
Glaslyn sits high up on the eastern side of Snowdon, which is the tallest mountain in Wales. It's about 600 meters (nearly 2,000 feet) above sea level! The lake is found in a bowl-shaped valley called a cwm.
Shape and Size
Glaslyn is shaped a bit like an oval. It stretches about 500 meters (1,640 feet) from east to west. It is also about 300 meters (980 feet) from north to south. A popular walking path called the Miners' Track runs right along its northern edge.
The River Glaslyn
Glaslyn is also the starting point for the Afon Glaslyn. This is a major river in Gwynedd. The river flows from Glaslyn to another lake called Llyn Llydaw. Then it turns south-west, eventually reaching the sea at Porthmadog.
Environmental Findings
In 2020, scientists found tiny pieces of plastic in the lake. These are called microplastics. They were likely brought there by rain. This discovery led to more studies. Scientists wanted to see how much plastic pollution might be in other lakes and mountains across the UK.
Folklore and Legends
Glaslyn is a very old place with many exciting legends from Welsh history. These stories have been passed down for many generations.
King Arthur's Sword
One famous Welsh legend tells of King Arthur. It says that Arthur's loyal knight, Bedivere, threw Arthur's magical sword, Excalibur, into Glaslyn. Later, Arthur's body was supposedly placed in a boat on this lake. He was then carried away to the mythical island of Afallon.
Arthur's men are also said to be sleeping in a cave nearby. They are waiting on the slopes of Y Lliwedd mountain. They will wake up when they are needed again. Another legend says that Merlin, the wizard, hid the golden throne of Britain among the cliffs north of Crib y Ddysgl. He did this when the Saxons invaded.
The Water Monster
Glaslyn was also the final home of a scary water monster. This creature was known as an afanc. The afanc had been causing trouble for the people living in the Conwy valley. They managed to trick the monster out of the water using a young girl. Then, they tied it with chains and dragged it all the way to Glaslyn.
Magical Stones and Fairies
There is a large stone near Glaslyn called Maen Du'r Arddu. It is found below Clogwyn Du'r Arddu. This stone is believed to have magical powers. Like some other places in Wales, it is said that if two people spend the night there, one will become a great poet. The other, however, will become insane.
Another nearby lake, Llyn Coch, is linked to the Tylwyth Teg. These are the Welsh fairies. One story connected to Llyn Coch is a version of the fairy bride legend.
