The Loe
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The Loe, also known as Loe Pool, is the largest natural freshwater lake in Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. It is separated from the sea by the shingle bank of Loe Bar, situated midway between Porthleven and Gunwalloe. Both the Loe and Loe Bar are situated within the Penrose Estate, administered by the National Trust, [1] and are designated as a SSSI by Natural England [2].
The Loe was originally the estuary of the River Cober which flows through the former port of Helston, two miles inland. The Bar is thought to have formed during the thirteenth century, cutting off Helston's access to the sea.[citation needed] To prevent flooding in parts of Helston, the Bar has occasionally been breached, a practice known locally as "cutting". However, it has always naturally resealed itself.[citation needed]
The Loe is reputed to be the lake in which Sir Bedivere cast King Arthur's sword, Excalibur.[citation needed] Local superstition also warns that the Loe claims a victim every seven years.[citation needed]
Loe Bar is the only site in Britain where the subspecies leechi of the Sandhill Rustic moth is found [3].
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- English Nature. Loe Pool SSSI Designation. Accessed 12 November 2007.
- Natural England. Loe Pool SSSI Unit List. Accessed 12 November 2007.
- National Trust. Penrose Estate: Gunwalloe and Loe Pool. Accessed 12 November 2007.
