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Semerwater is the second largest natural lake in North Yorkshire, England after Malham Tarn. It is half a mile (800 m) long, covers and lies in Raydale, opposite England's shortest river the River Bain. A private pay and display parking area is at the foot of the lake. Semerwater attracts canoers, windsurfers, yachtsmen and fishermen. There are three small settlements nearby: *Stalling Busk *Countersett *Marsett Semerwater was the subject of a number of sketches and paintings by the artist J M W Turner.〔(Tate website )〕 Semerwater is a pleonastic place name. The name, first recorded in 1153, derives from the Old English elements ''sæ'' 'lake', ''mere'' 'lake' and ''water''. The form "Lake Semerwater" introduces a fourth element with the same meaning. The lake is a Site of Special Scientific Interest, first notified in 1975.〔(Natural England: SSSI citation )〕 ==The Legend== According to an old legend, Semerwater was once occupied by a prosperous city. One night an old man (or in some versions, an angel in disguise) came down to the city, in search of food and drink. He went from door to door, and at each house he was turned away. Finally, he came to the hovel of a poor couple just outside the town; the couple took him in and treated him with great kindness. When the stranger was about to leave, he turned to face the town and uttered the curse: "Semerwater rise, and Semerwater sink, And swallow the town all save this house, Where they gave me food and drink." And as soon as this was said, the waters of the lake rose up and flooded the city, drowning the proud inhabitants and leaving only the hovel of the poor couple on the hillside unscathed.〔(The Legend of Semerwater )〕 The legend was the subject of a poem, ''The Ballad of Semerwater'', by Sir William Watson.〔(The Ballad of Semerwater )〕 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Semerwater」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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