This is the joint winner of GEOGRAPHY REVIEW’S recent photo competition. It was taken by Susan Harte. The lone tree stands on the edge of Llyn Padarn by the village of Llanberis. Llyn Padarn is a moraine-dammed lake within the classic glaciated landscapes of the Snowdonia National Park in north Wales. When the local slate quarries were at their peak in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, waste slate was commonly dumped into Llyn Padarn forming small islands and peninsulas — some have been colonised by birch trees. You can see angular slabs of slate protruding above the water in Sue Harte’s photograph. When the lake level rises, this silver birch occupies its own tiny island. When the lake level falls, its roots are exposed, and the tree becomes part of a small, wooded peninsula.
The view looks east-southeast towards some of the highest peaks in Snowdonia. This location is particularly popular in winter when the tree is bare, and the lake reflects the imposing snow-capped peaks of the Glyderau and Snowdon in the distance. This photo was taken on 18 October 2018. The lone tree of Llyn Padarn has been described as the most photographed tree in Wales. It has gathered quite a following in recent years and even has its own Facebook group. Ironically, it is rarely lonely since photographers gather in all seasons from dawn to dusk to capture the most atmospheric shots.
Your organisation does not have access to this article.
Sign up today to give your students the edge they need to achieve their best grades with subject expertise
Subscribe
