Llyn Bochlwyd
Llyn Bochlwyd | |
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Llyn Bochlwyd | |
Location | Snowdonia, Wales |
Coordinates | 53°06′N 4°0′W / 53.100°N 4.000°WCoordinates: 53°06′N 4°0′W / 53.100°N 4.000°W |
Type | natural |
Primary outflows | Nant Bochlwyd |
Basin countries | United Kingdom |
Surface area | 4.208 ha (10.40 acres) |
Surface elevation | 555 m (1,821 ft) |
Llyn Bochlwyd (Welsh pronunciation: [ɬɨ̞n boːχluːɨ̯d, ɬɪn boːχlʊi̯d]) is a lake in Snowdonia, Wales, in Conwy County Borough. It lies in Cwm Bochlwyd, near Llyn Ogwen in the Glyderau mountain range.[1]
Name and controversy[]
The name translates as "Lake of the Greycheek". According to a local legend, this is where an old grey stag, fleeing a hunter, miraculously escaped by leaping from a great height into the lake and swimming to safety while holding its grey cheeks above the surface, in order to breathe.[2]
In some English language guidebooks and websites, the lake is referred to as "Lake Australia", as the shape of the lake is said to resemble the map of Australia, from a view point above.[3]
The adoption of a new English name in favour of the pre-existing Welsh name has been criticised as Linguistic discrimination. In 2018 the broadcaster Tudor Owen cited the name change as "erasing history".[2]
The name change has been cited as part of the debate around preserving historic place-names in law. In 2020, the Shadow Minister for Culture and the Welsh Language, Sian Gwenllian mentioned the lake in raising the possibility of a new bill to preserve Welsh place-names.[4]
References[]
- ^ "Llyn Bochlwyd". Snowdonia Guide. Retrieved 15 April 2021.
- ^ a b Tudur Owen, Fear 'history is lost when Welsh place names are changed’, BBC Cymru Wales
- ^ "Llyn Bochlwyd". Snowdonia Guide. Retrieved 15 April 2021.
- ^ Gwenllian, Sian (4 August 2020). "It's Llyn Bochlwyd, not Lake Australia: Why we should protect our Welsh place names". Retrieved 15 April 2021.
External links[]
Media related to Llyn Bochlwyd at Wikimedia Commons
- Beddgelert
- Lakes of Conwy County Borough
- Lakes of Snowdonia
- Tourism in Conwy County Borough
- Tourism in Snowdonia
- Clwyd geography stubs