Why should we love Llyn Padarn?

Whether you have a business on the shores of the lake, enjoy swimming in the lagoons, catching fish, walking your dog round the lake path, or you simply drive past it everyday, all of us who live, work or holiday in the Llanberis valley have a link to Llyn Padarn.

In 2009, the lake suffered from a toxic algal bloom which resulted in warning signs being posted along the lake shore advising people to avoid using the lake for much of the summer. The bloom was caused by a combination of weather conditions and nutrients such as phosphorus entering the lake. These nutrients can come from a number of sources including soil erosion and waste water. The nutrients feed the algal blooms which can be toxic to humans and animals if ingested. Algae also use up the oxygen in the water which makes life very difficult for fish in the lake.

The 2009 bloom had a really negative impact on local businesses, wildlife, and people who could no longer enjoy the lake. Without reductions in the amount of nutrients entering the lake the threat of further algal blooms remains. By making some simple changes to our day-to-day activities we can help to reduce the input of harmful nutrients into Llyn Padarn.

Just in case you were in any doubt about why we should love our lake take a look at this stunning time-lapse film of a Llyn Padarn sunrise taken from Penllyn, Brynrefail. Filmed by Kevin Lewis this was captured as a timelapse over 4 hours starting at 5am.