Great Lake

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The Black Lake^[1] (alternatively known as the Great Lake^[2]) is a large body of water located to the south of the castle. It is about half a mile in diameter and the Hogwarts plumbing network drains into it.

History

Every school year at Hogwarts, first years sail across the lake to the castle led by Rubeus Hagrid in boats as per Hogwarts tradition. When they got to the school, they are then Sorted into their houses. In Harry's fourth year it is said that Dennis Creevey fell into the lake and that the giant squid carried him back to the surface.

Triwizard Tournament

Second Task Lake — The Second Task of the Triwizard Tournament

Students from Durmstrang Institute arrived at Hogwarts on their enchanted boat via Black Lake. As part of the Second Task of the Triwizard Tournament, the four champions Harry Potter, Fleur Delacour, and Cedric Diggory, and Viktor Krum had to swim in the lake for one hour to rescue something that was taken from them. Harry used Gillyweed to be able to breath underwater, while Cedric and Fleur used the Bubble-Head Charm, and Krum partially Transfigured himself into a Shark.

Dumbledore's Funeral

In 1997, Albus Dumbledore was laid to rest in a white tomb on the shores of the lake following his death in the Battle of the Astronomy Tower.

Inhabitants

It is home to a Giant Squid, grindylows, and a colony of Merpeople. The lake was also used as the site of the Second Task of the Triwizard Tournament. The Slytherin common room is beneath the lake, accessed through an entrance in the school dungeons. The Chamber of Secrets is also thought to be beneath the lake. At some point, Neville Longbottom's pet toad, Trevor, escaped into the lake, joining other toads that lived there.^[3]

Temperature

The lake is very often cold, but Viktor Krum is known to have swam in it, apparently not affected by the low temperature (although this is probably due to the fact that his school, Durmstrang, is located in a place that is even colder).

Lily Evans and her friends were also said to dangle their legs over the water, which could mean that there were no rules whilst they were in school against swimming in the lake.

Behind the scenes

In the films, the lake is known as "The Black Lake."
In LEGO Harry Potter: Years 1-4, the lake has quays.
In the films Dumbledore's body is placed on a small island in the middle of the Black Lake. After this, in 1998, Voldemort accesses his grave and takes the Elder Wand from Dumbledore's grave.

Appearances

Notes and references

↑ Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (film)
↑ Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (video game) -
↑ Pottermore information on toads (transcript available here)

Hogwarts Castle

Hogwarts grounds

Beasts Classroom · Boathouse Steps · Bowtruckle Island · Broomshed · Care of Magical Creatures Classroom · Clock Tower Courtyard · Entrance footpath · Entrance gatehouse · Entrance Gates · Exterior Walkway · Forbidden Forest · Forest Vault · Gargoyle Gate · Gatehouse · Great Lake · Greenhouses · Greenhouse battlements · Grounds Portrait Room · Hagrid's Garden (Pumpkin patch) · Hagrid's Hut · Incendio Challenge · Landing Strip · Lawn by the Forbidden Forest · Path to Owlery · Path to the Whomping Willow · Pixie water well · Quidditch Changing Rooms · Quidditch Gate · Quidditch pitch · Quidditch pitch viaduct · Quidditch Training Pitch · Ravenclaw Duelling Arena · Ravine · Road to Hogsmeade · Road to Hogwarts · Secret Garden · Secret room near the Training Grounds · Stables · Stone Circle · Sunken Vault · Training Grounds · Waiting Tent · Walled Garden · Waterfalls · White Tomb · Wooden Bridge

[goffilm-1] Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (film)

[PAvg-2] Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (video game) -

[3] Pottermore information on toads (transcript available here)

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