In the latest mag., Rutland Water is referred to as the largest manmade make in Europe. At a mere 3,100acres, it is certainly not that; Lac de Der-Chantecoq in NE France claims 4,800ha or 11850acres, and still only claims to be the biggest in France.

Yes, I remember seeing an episode of record breakers where Roy Castle posed the question regarding the largest manmade lake in Europe and Norris McWerter responding with exactly the same answer. Lac De Der-Chantecoq in NE France.  Interestingly enough, I didn't really give a toss then either.

Actually, Lake Lagoda is the largest lake in Europe, and the 14th largest lake by area in the world.

The lake's area is 17,891 km² (excluding the islands). Its length (north to south) is 219 km, average width is 83 km, average depth is 51 m, maximum depth is about 230 m (in north-western part). Basin area: 276,000 km², volume: 837 km³[1] (earlier estimated as 908 km³);. There are about 660 islands, with a total area of 435 km². Ladoga's level above the sea is 5 m on average.[2] Most of the islands, including the famous Valaam archipelago, Kilpola and Konevets, are situated in the north-western part.

Separated from the Baltic Sea by the Karelian Isthmus, it drains into the Gulf of Finland via the Neva River.

Lake Ladoga is navigable, being a part of the Volga-Baltic Waterway connecting the Baltic Sea with the Volga River. The Ladoga Canal bypasses the lake in the southern part, connecting the Neva to the Svir.

The basin of Lake Ladoga includes about 50,000 lakes and 3,500 rivers longer than 10 km. About 85% of the water income is due to tributaries, 13% is due to precipitation, and 2% is due to underground waters



However, even in the face of all this enclycopedic knowledge, I find it difficult to give a monkeys.

It wasn't made by a man - or a monkey though!!  Volume of water of man made lake is another category we may be overlooking.  This thread is getting too exciting so sadly will have to stop here.

Agreed that order in terms of capacity might not be the same as in terms of surface area; for e.g. Kielder has higher capacity than Rutland. I had assumed dinghy sailors were more intersted in area than volume.

By the way, how any Merlins have sailed at Der-Chantecoq? 1620 has; the lake sits on a plateau and gets very clean winds; excellent sailing. Also the quaint wooden frame churches in various villages round the SW corner are well worth a visit.

I'm there....

Not that we really give a toss now either but according to the European Environment Agency's website the largest reservoir/artifical lake in Europe (excluding European Russia/Ukraine - Kuybyshev Reservoir being 6450km2) is the Ijsselmeer reservoir in the Netherlands, which exceeds 1000 km2. Lac De Der-Chantecoq is only 48 km2.

In terms of surface area (3100 acres) Rutland Water is the largest reservoir in England.  However, in terms of capacity (200 billion litres), Kielder Water in Northumberland is larger.

Well blow me down.  I am so much wiser for knowing this. Thank you.

So, what is the largest harbour in the world? Sydney, Poole, Falmouth, Trincomalee? You should enjoy this.!

Natural or man-made? ;)

deepest natural harbour in the world is rio  - 2nd deepest is falmouth. what's it got to do with merlin sailing though?

The water isn't made-made though, that's made by mother nature. So surely the largest man-made lake is the one you get if the Gents floods at Salcombe YC next week....

Does size matter?

hmmm! I seem to have stirred a giant sea out of a pond here.

I still think im on safe ground with Sydney Harbour.  Rutland? just reporting received wisdom. 
steve

Gloucester is a pretty large man made lake at some points throughout the year. Does this count?

If Sydney Harbour counts so does Poole Harbour.

my research suggested that Poole was merely vieing for second spot.

Correct but that is big!

Poole Harbour was reckoned to be the 2nd largest natural harbour in the world when my wife was at Parkstone Grammar School in the early 1970's and nowhere else has been discovered since but this must have been on surface area not volume as most of it (i.e. behind Brownsea) is shallow enough to ground a Merlin centreboard out of the dredged channels

maybe Rutland's claim to fame is do with the shore line distance rather than the surface area, capacity or fathoms. Its a good 23 odd miles around the pond at Rutland. Not thet us sailors are much interested in byking when we can be yotting.

Rutland also has a £1.5 million pound copy of a Merlin sail, made by some one called Henry Moor. I dont know what boat he sailed.

Has it got a hole in it? (For the younger,- or possibly uneducated,- generation, many of Moore's sculptures did have holes)

It,s Big, it's Broad and yes it does have a hole in it.

Since most of Moore's stuff is very big, veryheavy and in bronze it probably still doers have holes in it. Before he died Henry Moore had a big problem finding sites for a lot  of his work which had high price tags but few paid for them - so he gave them away. There is a collection of five on the slopes overlooking the Oresund in North Sjaelland Denmark (At a modern art museum called Louisiana.) they add to the scenery. I don'tthink the Rutland one looks like Merlin Rocket sail but it does add to the scene at Rutland.

All correct AG; I visited the collection in Denmark several years ago,- as AG says a very fine location,- and got into big trouble for sitting down in a piece which the artist clearly intended for that purpose.

Broz, shouldnt you be decorating instead of gossiping about sailing and statues?

I live for quite a bit of the year a few hundred meters way from Louisiana, they can be a bit prissy let's face it a bomb would not do a lot of harm to a Henry Moore bronze!

Agreed about the solidity. I recall when I was there there were many oils with little labels giving some details of the work, ending with time of acquisition & price. There was one which was just one colour all over,-whose label ended,- 'gift of the artist';- probably still there.

In a similar vein, and over 40 years ago, the Unversity of Liverpool had a temporary ehibition of modern art, with similar explanatory labels. Some wag amended one of these, to end,'.... Unfortunately, given the high prices commanded by the work of this revolutionary artist, the University was unable to purchase the original; we were however able to negotiate the purchase of the rag on which the painter cleaned his brushes'

and finally,....' a friend of mine once asked me about the similarity between modern art and women? Ans:- 'you either like it, or you don't like it, but don't try to understand it'

Solid and metal - sounds ripe for that particular brand of Brit - those that nick the brass plates from war memorials (something that seemed to happen in the West Country last week).

If they could get a Henry Moore away one could almost admire them the Louisiana ones took two cranes each to  lower them from Tank Transporters! Now those that desicrate War Memorials I cannot think of anything nasty enough.