It is a little touristed part of the Hebrides despite having some of the best beaches in Lewis, but remain popular with surfers, windsurfers and kite surfers.
Kiteboarding is a rapidly growing sport in the region, with Tannum Sands becoming a nationally renowned location.
Atmospheric pressure differentials east and west of the Cascades create a wind tunnel effect in the deep cut of the gorge, generating 35 mph (56 km/h) winds that make it a popular windsurfing and kitesurfing location.
In the winter, once the lake freezes, it is used for cross country skiing, walking trails, and kitesurfing on snow, with the famous Engadin Skimarathon crossing the lake annually.
Rob Munro remains the current world speedsailing record holder for kitesurfing over the nautical mile.
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The WSSRC Nautical Mile record for kitesurfing was originally set in Walvis Bay, Namibia in 2005 by Dirk Hanel (GER) at 35.44 kts, and broken again in 2006 by Rob Munro (GB) at Walvis Bay, 35.65 kts.