Rostherne Mere facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Rostherne Mere |
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View across the mere
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 Rostherne Mere
Location in Cheshire
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| Location | Cheshire |
| Coordinates | 53°21′14″N 2°23′13″W / 53.354°N 2.387°W |
| Basin countries | United Kingdom |
| Surface area | 48 ha (120 acres) |
| Average depth | 30 m (98 ft) |
| Designated: | 24 July 1981 |
| Reference #: | 221 |
Rostherne Mere is a beautiful natural lake. You can find it in Cheshire, England. It is the biggest of the lakes in Cheshire. The lake covers about 48 hectares, which is like 70 football fields! It is also very deep, going down 30 meters. That's as tall as a 10-story building!
Rostherne Mere is north of Rostherne village. It is also south of the M56 motorway. This lake is very important for animals and plants. Because of its special wildlife, it has been made a National Nature Reserve. It is also a Ramsar site and a Site of Special Scientific Interest. These titles help protect the lake and its surrounding areas.
Contents
Where is Rostherne Mere?
The lake sits on thick layers of earth. These layers were left behind by ancient glaciers. The lake likely formed in two ways. First, melting glaciers left behind a big hole. Second, the ground underneath the lake slowly sank. This happened because underground salt dissolved away.
The lake water is very rich in nutrients. It has high levels of things like phosphate and nitrate. These nutrients come from nearby farms and streams. They also come from the many birds that rest on the lake.
Amazing Wildlife at the Mere
Rostherne Mere is a busy place for many animals. It is especially popular with birds.
Birds of the Lake
Lots of different ducks spend the winter here. You might see tufted ducks and pochards. There are also goldeneye and teal. Another common visitor is the wigeon.
Many other birds also gather here. Up to 10,000 black-headed gulls can be seen. About 1,000 common gulls also visit. You might even spot 300 cormorants.
Some birds also make their nests here. These include the great crested grebe. You can also find reed warblers and sedge warblers. In the woods nearby, look for lesser spotted woodpeckers and little owls.
Insects and Water Creatures
The reserve is home to many beautiful butterflies. Keep an eye out for the white-letter hairstreak. You might also see the purple hairstreak and the common blue.
The deepest parts of the lake do not have many small creatures. But in the shallower areas, you can find different types of snails. There are also various molluscs and leeches living there.
Plants of Rostherne Mere
The lake itself does not have many plants growing underwater. But you can see floating patches of yellow water-lily. There are also beautiful white water-lily beds.
Around the edges of the lake, you will find different plants. There are areas with birch and willow trees. You can also see tall reedbeds. These include common reed and lesser reedmace. Another interesting plant is the sweet flag.
The nearby woodland is mostly made up of oak trees. On the ground, you might spot patches of wood sorrel. There is also yellow archangel. In spring, look for the lovely early purple orchid.
Folklore and Legends
Rostherne Mere has a fun old story. People say a mermaid lives in the lake! They believe she sometimes rings a sunken bell deep under the water. It's a magical tale that adds to the mystery of the mere.
 | Bayard Rustin |
 | Jeannette Carter |
 | Jeremiah A. Brown |
