3. Chadwick Lakes
• The dams at
Chadwick Lakes were
built by a colonial
engineer, known as
Sir Oswald Chadwick
thus becoming known
as Chadwick Lakes.
4. Chadwick Lakes
• These dams allow
fresh water to gather
after winter rain.
• This water serves
farmers in the area to
irrigate their fields.
• The collected rain
water even serves as
a habitat for different
flora and fauna.
5. Chadwick Lakes
• During the wet
season the volume of
rainfall is abundant
and because of this
the water level behind
the dams overflow.
6. Chadwick Lakes
• This particular stretch
of watercourse flows
through an exposed
layer of globigerina
lime stone.
• Here we can see the
eroded rocks that the
water formed through
out the years.
7. Chadwick Lakes
• During 1990’s part of
the valley was
cleaned and the side
walls were replaced
by gabions filled with
rubble stones.
• These hold strong
during heavy water
flows.
8. Chadwick Lakes
• These gabions
enabled flora and
fauna to live within.
• Flora diversity has
reduced drastically in
the area that received
the intervention.
9. Chadwick Lakes
• A type of particular
flora that has revived
in the valley and
seems to be taking
over other flora in the
dams in an alarming
manner is the Fool
Water Cress.
10. Chadwick Lakes
• Most of the poplar (luq)
trees which are native to
Malta are to be found
along this valley.
• Poplar (luq) trees grow in
valleys right out of the
valley floor where their
roots follow water stream
sprouting new poplars.
11. Chadwick Lakes
• Many fields are bordered
by rubble walls creating
another habitat within
habitat.
• There are certain wild
flowers such as poppies
or Gargir Abjad that
grow in them.
• These attract animals
that feed on them.
12. Chadwick Lakes
• Here one can find a
large amount of the
islands amphibian the
Painted Frog.
• Nowadays because of
education these frogs
are not caught any
more by youngsters.
13. Chadwick Lakes
• Flowers attract
butterflies.
• Butterflies are an
important part of food
chains, as they and
their caterpillars are
around in spring and
summer when birds
need juicy insects to
feed their young.
14. Chadwick Lakes
• The Maltese wall
lizards (gremxula) is
only found in Malta.
• Lizards could be seen
early in the morning
sunning on a stone.
• Lizards have the
ability to drop their
tail as a last ditch to
escape predators.
15. Chadwick Lakes
• The reed is a strong
plant that grows
rapidly where there is
water and enough
mud for it to spread
its roots.
• Reeds are home to
many mini beasts like
spiders, birds and
grasshoppers.
16. Chadwick Lakes
• The peaceful sounds
of nature in the early
morning accompanied
by the gurgling of
flowing water are
relax full the mind.
Click picture:
17. Chadwick Lakes
• The whole valley is
currently in a
neglected state and
the dams are full of
silt and rubble.
• Therefore they can’t
hold water to their
maximum capacity.
