The city of Windermere is not unlike the Lake Windermere that it flanks and shares its name with: Both are beautiful in a very natural way yet both also are vital to the respective economies that they supplement. Interestingly enough, Windermere doesn't actually extend to the coast of Lake Windermere and instead stops short a little under a mile from the famed body of water. Despite this, the city of Windermere wouldn't even be here without the bounty that has been provided from Lake Windermere and the two are as intertwined as any other waterside location in England or beyond.
One must also remember that the old town of Bowness-on-Windermere is now in fact a part of Windermere and has been successfully absorbed for better or worse. The city of Bowness is much older and more historic and it is for that reason that many of the residents of Bowness like to consider themselves a part of the old part of town instead. Either way, one can hardly judge such loyalties after taking a view of the mountains from the bottom of the Bowness Hill. The natural beauty of Bowness has caused it to become a major center for tourism but the tallies of such visitors of course falls within the overarching name of Windermere. Similarly, much of the boating and yachting action that is seen on Lake Windermere comes from the many piers in Bowness.
As much as Lake Windermere accomplished to the grown of Bowness and the outlying areas that are now Windermere, the true growth of the town owes more to the developments of man rather than nature. Like many formerly rural areas of England, the arrival of railways in the late nineteenth century transformed cow towns into full fledged cities almost overnight and it is the Kendal and Windermere Railway that we have to thank for the growth of Windermere. This isn't to say that Windermere is in danger of being mistaken for a metropolis anytime soon, however; the total population of Windermere and Bowness taken together is still less than ten thousand. To be fair, though, this figure doesn't take into consideration the tourism levels of Windermere during peak season. Also, one must remember that many people live in the surrounding areas of the County of Cumbria and Windermere is often a weekend or fishing destination so the people that live there certainly get to see a lot more than just each other.
Windermere is rare in the fact that it is one of the few cities that enjoys a healthy supply of tourism based on its natural features rather than any manmade theme parks or hotels. From the stunning mountains to the rare rock deposits to the beautiful Lake Windermere there is a bevy of visual stimuli that can easily make someone believe in the raw powers of the planet on which we live. A trip to Windermere is more than just a visit to a lake and some hills: It is a re-affirmation of what is good about the world.
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