| Until recent years known as
Cumberland. The county was formed from Cumberland and Westmoreland in 1974.
The most north westerly county in England and home to the world famous Lake
District. Think of Shelley, Wordsworth and Keats. Yes, that "Host of Golden
Daffodils" grew in this very county.
Cumbria covers an expanse of some 2,629 square miles with it's
administrative centre in Carlisle. Other major towns to be found in Cumbria
are Barrow-in-Furness, Kendal, Whitehaven, Workington and Penrith.
The Lake District contains England's
highest peak in Scafell Pike which stands 3,210 feet above sea level. Along
with the highest mountain Cumbria also holds the largest lake in Lake
Windermere, 10.5 miles long and 1 mile wide.
The traditional steel, coal and iron of the
coastal towns has been replaced by the modern industries such as chemicals,
plastics and electronics. To the north and east of the county dairy farming
is prevailant with West Cumberland Farmers being Great Britain's largest
agricultural co-operative.
One famous son of Cumbria is William
Wordsworth with the home of Samuel Coleridge to be found at Keswick.
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