Alton Water
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Alton Water | |
|---|---|
 |
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| Location | Suffolk |
| Lake type | reservoir |
| Basin countries | United Kingdom |
Alton Water (or Alton Reservoir) is a manmade reservoir. It is the largest in Suffolk, with a circumference of over 8 miles (13 km).
[edit] Construction
Due to a shortage of water in the Ipswich area in the 1960s a list of 20 potential sites for reservoirs was made with Alton being the chosen site.
The land was mainly farmland, but was also home to a mill and Alton Hall. The mill was dismantled and reconstructed at the Museum of East Anglian Life in Stowmarket.
Construction and the filling with water took 13 years to complete.[1]
[edit] Uses
The reservoir is primarily used for the supply of water to Ipswich and the surrounding areas. Other uses include:
- Fishing
- Sailing and watersports
- Birdwatching
- Scuba diving
- Cross country cycling
- It served as the location for water sports days as part of EuroJam in 2005 and the 21st World Scout Jamboree in 2007.
There is a sports centre situated at the reservoir, and also a restaurant and tea room.
