Rutland Water
| Rutland Water | |
|---|---|
St Matthew's Church, Normanton, on the water's edge | |
Rutland Water | |
| Location | Rutland |
| Coordinates | 52°40′N 0°40′W / 52.667°N 0.667°W |
| Type | Reservoir |
| Primary outflows | River Gwash |
| Basin countries | England |
| Managing agency | Anglian Water |
| Designation | Site of Special Scientific Interest |
| Built | 1971–1975 |
| First flooded | 1976 |
| Max. length | 4.4 miles (7.1 km) |
| Max. width | 2.6 miles (4.2 km) |
| Surface area | 10.86 square kilometres (4.19 sq mi) |
| Average depth | 14 metres (46 ft) |
| Max. depth | 34 metres (112 ft) |
| Water volume | 124 million cubic metres (4.4×109 cu ft) |
| Surface elevation | 85 metres (279 ft) |
| Website | https://anglianwaterparks.co.uk/rutland-water |
| Designated | 14 October 1991 |
| Reference no. | 533 |
Rutland Water is a reservoir, an artificial lake, in Rutland, England, east of Rutland's county town, Oakham. It is filled by pumping from the River Nene and River Welland, and provides water to the East Midlands. By surface area it is the largest reservoir in the United Kingdom, but its capacity is exceeded by that of Kielder Water in Northumberland. Its maximum depth is 33 m (108 ft).
Set in 3,100 acres (1,300 hectares) of countryside, it has a 23-mile-perimeter (37 km) track (17 mi or 27 km excluding Hambleton Peninsula) for walking or cycling. Since the water is drawn upon when needed, the relative areas of land and water vary a little, but the flatter parts of the lake margin are enclosed by banks so that the wetland nature reserve is maintained (grid reference SK886073).
A 6 sq. mi. (1,555 hectare) area of lake and shore is a biological Site of Special Scientific Interest, and a Nature Conservation Review site. An area of 5¼ sq. mi, (1,333 hectares) is an internationally important wetland site under the Ramsar Convention, and 1½ sq. mi. (393 hectares) at the western end is managed by the Leicestershire and Rutland Wildlife Trust.