The making of Loe Pool
The River Cober originally flowed into an estuary and then into the sea. But rising sea levels thousands of years ago flooded the coastline and picked up shingle from miles away, leaving it at the mouth of the river. The shingle formed a bar and created the Loe, which comes from ‘logh’, a Cornish word for pool.
In the past the sea often washed over the bar, but Loe Pool is now mostly a freshwater lake. It is home to many species of wildlife including frogs, snakes, butterflies, otters and a variety of brown trout, which could be unique to the lake. Over 100 species of birds have been identified at Loe Pool with many migratory species stopping on the way to their winter destinations.
The shingle was relatively porous and fresh water could leave and seawater enter depending, on the relative heights of the pool and sea Richard Carew (1602)
Did you know?
During the Second World War explosive mines were placed along Loe Bar and wood was floated on Loe Pool to stop seaplanes landing.
