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Look at that beautiful lake!

Ladybower reservoir, part of the Upper Derwent.

People rely on a good, reliable, clean source of water.

The growth of the surrounding towns and cities during the Industrial Revolution of the 1800's led people to look to the Peak District moorlands for their water supply.  The result was the building of a number of dams in order to trap, treat and regulate the rainwater flowing from the moors.  These reservoirs formed the basis of the water supply to cities such as Manchester and Sheffield.

Today the reservoirs are a popular feature of the landscape, providing a focus for recreation.  Few people are aware of the impact the reservoirs had on the landscape and the people that lived in the now flooded valleys.

To find out more about the complexity of this issues follow these links:

reservoirs
dam builders

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