Llyn Trawsfynydd
Encyclopedia
Llyn Trawsfynydd is a large man-made reservoir
situated near the village of Trawsfynydd
in Gwynedd
, North Wales
. With a total surface area of 4.8 km² (1,180 acres) the reservoir is slightly more extensive than Wales's largest natural lake, Llyn Tegid (which covers an area of 4.5 km²).
Originally created in 1928 as the header reservoir for the Maentwrog
hydro-electric power station
, Llyn Trawsfynydd was subsequently also used as the source of cooling water for the Trawsfynydd nuclear power station
which generated electricity for the UK National Grid. The nuclear power station, now in the process of decommissioning, no longer generates electricity, but the lake continues to be used for hydroelectricity generation.
Reservoir
A reservoir , artificial lake or dam is used to store water.Reservoirs may be created in river valleys by the construction of a dam or may be built by excavation in the ground or by conventional construction techniques such as brickwork or cast concrete.The term reservoir may also be used to...
situated near the village of Trawsfynydd
Trawsfynydd
Trawsfynydd is a village in Gwynedd, North Wales, adjacent to the A470 north of Dolgellau near Blaenau Ffestiniog....
in Gwynedd
Gwynedd
Gwynedd is a county in north-west Wales, named after the old Kingdom of Gwynedd. Although the second biggest in terms of geographical area, it is also one of the most sparsely populated...
, North Wales
North Wales
North Wales is the northernmost unofficial region of Wales. It is bordered to the south by the counties of Ceredigion and Powys in Mid Wales and to the east by the counties of Shropshire in the West Midlands and Cheshire in North West England...
. With a total surface area of 4.8 km² (1,180 acres) the reservoir is slightly more extensive than Wales's largest natural lake, Llyn Tegid (which covers an area of 4.5 km²).
Originally created in 1928 as the header reservoir for the Maentwrog
Maentwrog
Maentwrog is a village and community in the Welsh county of Gwynedd, lying in the Vale of Ffestiniog, within the Snowdonia National Park. The River Dwyryd runs alongside the village...
hydro-electric power station
Power station
A power station is an industrial facility for the generation of electric energy....
, Llyn Trawsfynydd was subsequently also used as the source of cooling water for the Trawsfynydd nuclear power station
Trawsfynydd nuclear power station
Trawsfyndd nuclear power station is a disused Magnox power station situated at Trawsfynydd in Gwynedd, Wales.-History:Construction of the power station, which was undertaken by a consortium involving Crompton Parkinson, International Combustion, Fairey Engineering and Richardsons Westgarth, and...
which generated electricity for the UK National Grid. The nuclear power station, now in the process of decommissioning, no longer generates electricity, but the lake continues to be used for hydroelectricity generation.