What are the Norfolk Broads?
The Norfolk Broads are a network of rivers and shallow lakes, called broads, in Norfolk and Suffolk, eastern England. They form Britain's largest protected wetland and are famous for boating holidays and wildlife.
For a long time, people thought the broads were natural lakes. In the 1950s, researchers showed that they were created by medieval peat digging. The pits later flooded as sea levels rose.
There are more than 120 miles of navigable waterways without locks, making the Broads ideal for boating.
Wildlife and windmills
The Broads are home to rare wildlife, including the swallowtail butterfly, bitterns, otters and marsh harriers.
Historic windmills and wind pumps, used to drain the marshes, dot the landscape. Thatched cottages and village pubs line the waterways.
The Broads have the same status as a national park and are managed by the Broads Authority, created in 1989. Popular towns include Wroxham, often called the capital of the Broads, Horning and Potter Heigham.
Visitors can hire boats, kayaks and canoes. Norwich, a historic city with a cathedral and castle, is close by.