Carsington Water

Carsington Water is a reservoir operated by Severn Trent Water in Derbyshire, England. The reservoir takes water from the River Derwent at Ambergate during winter months, pumping up to the reservoir by 10.5-kilometre (6.5 mi) long tunnels and aqueduct. Water is released back into the river during summer months for water abstraction and treatment further downstream. It is England's ninth largest reservoir with a capacity of 35,412 megalitres.

Planning for the reservoir started in the 1960s with actual construction starting in 1979. In 1984 there was a partial collapse of the dam prior to its filling. The dam was subsequently completely removed before construction of a new dam commenced in 1989. The finished reservoir was opened by Queen Elizabeth II in 1992.

The reservoir is a major centre for leisure activities including walking, cycling, fly fishing, birdwatching, sailing, canoeing, and windsurfing. The land surrounding the reservoir, in particular the facilities around the visitor centre, has played host to events including a music festival, the Festival of the Peak.

Birds seen at the site include Little Owl, Little Grebe, Great Northern Diver, Eurasian Oystercatcher, Common Tern and breeding Common Redshank. Feral Barnacle Geese are found there; a wild, ringed, Barnacle Goose was found in March 2011—it was ringed at WWT Caerlaverock in Dumfrieshire, Scotland on 8 February 1999.

Fly fishing is available from boats that can be hired from the Fishing Lodge. Fly fishing is for brown trout and rainbow trout only.

Places of Interest in Derbyshire
Places
  • Alfreton Hall
  • Alport Castles
  • Anchor Church
  • Arbor Low
  • Ardotalia (Melandra Castle)
  • Barlborough Hall
  • Beauchief Abbey
  • Black Rocks
  • Blue John Cavern
  • Bolsover Castle
  • Bradbourne Hall
  • Buxton Opera House
  • Buxton Museum & Art Gallery
  • Calke Abbey
  • Carsington Water
  • Chatsworth
  • Codnor Castle
  • Coxbench Hall
  • Creswell Crags
  • Crooked Spire
  • Cromford and High Peak Railway
  • Cromford Mill
  • Derby Museum & Art Gallery
  • Derbyshire Dales Narrow Gauge Railway
  • Derwent Reservoir
  • Derwent Valley Mills
  • Devonshire Dome
  • Dovedale
  • Duffield Castle
  • Ecclesbourne Valley Railway
  • Ednaston Manor
  • Elvaston Castle
  • Eyam Hall
  • Flagg Hall
  • Foremark Reservoir
  • Great Longstone Hall
  • Haddon Hall
  • Hardwick Hall
  • Hartington Hall
  • Heage Windmill
  • Heights of Abraham
  • High Peak Junction
  • Hob Hurst's House
  • Howden Reservoir
  • Ilam Park
  • Kedleston Hall
  • Kinder Scout
  • Ladybower Reservoir
  • Leawood Pump House
  • Longdendale Reservoir Chain
  • Longdendale Trail
  • Longford Hall
  • Mam Tor
  • Melbourne Hall
  • Midland Railway – Butterley
  • Millennium Walkway, New Mills
  • Minninglow
  • Monsal Dale
  • National Tramway Museum
  • National Stone Centre
  • Nine Ladies Stone Circle
  • Norbury Hall
  • Odin Mine
  • Ogston Reservoir
  • Parwich Hall
  • Peak Cavern
  • Peak Rail
  • Peveril Castle
  • Pilsbury Castle
  • Poole's Cavern
  • Renishaw Hall
  • Riber Castle
  • St Helen's House
  • Shining Cliff Woods
  • Speedwell Cavern
  • Stainsby Mill
  • Sudbury Hall
  • Sutton Scarsdale Hall
  • Swarkestone Hall Pavilion
  • Thornbridge Hall
  • Thorpe Cloud
  • Tissington Hall
  • Treak Cliff Cavern
  • Willersley Castle
  • Wingfield Manor
See also
  • Well dressing

Famous quotes containing the word water:

    The land may vary more;
    But wherever the truth may be—
    The water comes ashore,
    And the people look at the sea.
    Robert Frost (1874–1963)