lake, largest in England, in the southeastern part of the Lake District, in the administrative county of Cumbria, along the border between the historic counties of Lancashire and Westmorland. The lake is 10.5 miles (17 km) long and 1 mile (1.6 km) wide and has an area of 6 square miles (16 square km). It lies in two basins separated by a group of islands opposite the town of Bowness on the eastern shore and is drained by the River Leven. Part of the Lake District National Park, Windermere is a popular tourist centre with facilities for yachting and steamers operating in the summer. The town of Windermere is adjacent to Bowness. Pop. (2001) town, 8,245.