Lake Vyrnwy - The Lake/reservoir

The Lake/reservoir

The reservoir is Severn Trent Water's largest. When full, it can take as much as up to 59.666 gigalitres (1.3125×1010 imp gal), and it covers an area of 4.53 square kilometres (1,120 acres) of land, the equivalent of around 600 football pitches. The lake has a circumference of 11 miles (18 km) with a road that goes all the way around it. Its length is 4.75 miles (7.64 km). On a clear day the lake, along with many others in North Wales, can be seen from space.

311 streams, waterfalls and rivers flow into the lake and are named after the mountains or hillsides they flow from. Some are no more than a trickle, while others cascade down the mountains. From the west side of the dam, clockwise, their names are:

• Afon Hirddu
• Eunant
• Afon Eiddew
• Afon Naedroedd
• Afon Cedig
• Afon Y Dolau Gwynionew

On the Northern Edge of the lake is a small hamlet called Rhiwargor where the rivers Afon Eiddew and Afon Naedroedd meet. Up the valley of Afon Eiddew is an impressive waterfall, one of the largest surrounding the lake. Known locally as Pistyll Rhyd-y-meincau, it is commonly known as Rhiwargor Waterfall.

In 1889, shortly after completion, the lake was stocked with 400,000 Loch Leven trout.

The lake continues to supply Liverpool with fresh water. It is the water source used in the manufacture of Bombay Sapphire gin.