Lake type natural Basin countries United Kingdom Surface elevation 310 m Outflow location Afon Ogwen | Primary outflows River Ogwen Surface area 78 acres (32 ha) Area 32 ha Inflow source Afon Lloer | |
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Primary inflows | ||
Outflow from llyn ogwen in flood snowdonia wales uk
Llyn Ogwen is a ribbon lake in north-west Wales. It lies alongside the A5 road between two mountain ranges of Snowdonia, the Carneddau and the Glyderau. Somewhat unusually, the county boundary at this point is drawn so that the lake itself lies in the county of Gwynedd, but all the surrounding land (excluding the outflow) lies in Conwy County Borough.
Contents
- Outflow from llyn ogwen in flood snowdonia wales uk
- Map of Llyn Ogwen United Kingdom
- Photography at lake ogwen llyn ogwen
- References
Map of Llyn Ogwen, United Kingdom
Llyn Ogwen lies at a height of about 310 metres above sea level and has an area of 78 acres (320,000 m2), but is a very shallow lake, with a maximum depth of only a little over 3 metres. It is fed by a number of streams from the slopes of the mountains which surround it, which include Tryfan and Pen yr Ole Wen. The largest of these streams is Afon Lloer, which flows from Ffynnon Lloer.
It is said that after the Battle of Camlann (King Arthur's final battle), Sir Bedivere (Bedwyr) cast the sword Excalibur into Llyn Ogwen, where it was caught by the Lady of the Lake. Tryfan is said to be Sir Bedivere's final resting-place. According to the writer Jonah Jones:
"J. M. Archer Thomson, a headmaster of Llandudno School and a pioneer rock climber in Snowdonia quotes a strange legend from a Welsh magazine concerning Llyn Ogwen. A Shepherd happened upon a cave in Craig Cwrwgl above the lake containing the treasure of King Arthur. In the midst of the commotion caused by this intrusion, he turned to the lake, and 'behold thereon a coracle in which sat three women of more than mortal beauty, but the dread aspect of the rower would have filled the stoutest heart with terror.' E. W. Steeple, who recorded this legend, suggests it 'seems a little obscure, and it may be that it has become involved with another story', probably that of Llyn Llydaw."
Llyn Ogwen is the source of the Afon Ogwen which flows north to reach the sea near Bangor. Although Ogwen is a natural lake, a dam was built in the early 20th century to raise the level of the lake in order to provide water for the use of the nearby Penrhyn Quarry. The lake is popular with anglers and is said to contain excellent trout.