Windermere kettle facts for kids
A Windermere kettle is a special kind of tea urn or samovar that uses steam power. These kettles are found on some steam launches, which are small boats powered by steam. Imagine having a quick way to make hot tea or coffee right on your boat! That's exactly what a Windermere kettle does.
It's a metal container that holds a few pints of water. Inside, there's a special coil that gets hot from steam. When you want hot water, a valve opens, and steam from the boat's main engine boiler flows through this coil. This steam quickly heats the water inside the kettle. The used steam then goes out, either into the lake or up the boat's chimney. These kettles are super fast and can heat water for a pot of tea in just a few seconds!
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Where Did the Name Come From?
The name "Windermere kettle" comes from Windermere, a famous lake in the English Lakes. During the Victorian and Edwardian times (roughly the late 1800s to early 1900s), steam launches were very popular on this lake. Many of these boats had these handy kettles installed, which is how they got their unique name.
Important Facts About Windermere Kettles
It's good to know a few things about how these kettles work and the water they use.
What Kind of Water is Used?
The water you drink from a Windermere kettle is always fresh water. This water is added separately to the kettle, just like you'd fill a regular kettle at home. The steam that heats the water never mixes with the drinking water. This is important because the steam from the boat's boiler might have lubricants or chemicals in it, which are not safe to drink. So, the steam heats the water without touching it directly.
Is Lake Water Used?
No, the water for your tea is not taken directly from the lake. Even though Windermere lake is known for its clean water, it's still not a good idea to drink untreated lake water. The kettle uses fresh, clean water that is put into it separately.
