The Lakes in Cumbria is England's largest National Parks. It also boasts England's longest Lake (Windemere) and deepest lake (Wastwater) as well as England's highest mountain (Scafell Pike).

Some well-known towns include Keswick, Ambleside and Bowness-on-Windermere by the lakes, and of course Kendal, which is on the South East boundary of the designated National Park area. Kendal is also the town where the Lake District World Heritage Project, chaired by Cumbria County Council, is based.

If the Lakes does become a World Heritage Site this will be a natural progression from the first travel book, published in 1778 by Celia Fiennes. For literally centuries, therefore, the Lakes have had a huge impact on the people of England - and, of course, the rest of the world.

Later in the 18th century, Thomas West produced his "Guide to the Lakes", with its listings of 'stations' (viewpoints). This was the beginning of a form of tourism in the Lakes one can see as almost modern in its ambition.

But it took the efforts of renowned artists, poets, writers, and even thinkers like John Ruskin, who drew inspiration from the area, to really introduce the Lake District to the world. The impact of their work encouraged others to think about the way in which landscape, the environment and even nature itself could be viewed.

Another book which developed the popularity of the Lake District was William Wordsworth's first guidebook in 1810: his "Guide to the Lakes". Wordsworth made no secret of the fact that his favourite place was the Duddon Valley in the south-west of the Lake District.

The massive impact of the Lake District on the culture of Britain might result in the granting of World Heritage Site status. World Heritage Sites are considered to have "outstanding universal value" - that is, almost to be be unique - and there can be no denying that the Lake District is certainly unique!

As well as being associated with historic literature and art, the Lake District is a superb place to live and work. The farming families who have lived there over the generations have shaped and moulded the landscape we all know and love today.

This is an extremely exciting time for Cumbria and its residents. The Government could make its submission to UNESCO, for all or part of the National Park to become a World Heritage Site in 2011, one of 878 other throughout the world.

While World Heritage Site status doesn't bring the monetary reward of, say, a Nobel Prize, it is nevertheless a major trophy which, in ranking the Lake District alongside the existing list of Heritage Sites of the World, would have a major impact on the region, both social and economic.

About the Author:
A complete guide to the Lakes can be found at The Lake District Guides with details of hotels, bed and breakfasts, restaurants, and all the best visitor attractions.

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