Lake Maggiore

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Lake Maggiore Lago Maggiore Verbano
Coordinates	45°57′N 8°38′ECoordinates: 45°57′N 8°38′E
Primary sources	Ticino, Maggia, Toce, Tresa
Primary outflows	Ticino
Catchment area	6599 km²
Basin countries	Italy, Switzerland
Max-length	66 km
Max-width	10 km
Surface area	212.5 km²
Average depth	177.4 m
Max-depth	372 m
Water volume	37 km³
Residence time (of lake water)	4 years
Surface elevation	193 m
Islands	Brissago Islands, Borromean Islands
Settlements	Locarno, Luino, Verbania, Arona (see list)

Lake Maggiore (in Italian: Lago Maggiore or lago Verbano) is the most westerly of the three large prealpine lakes of Europe and the second largest after Lake Garda. It lies approximately at 45°57′N 8°38′E.

It has a surface area of about 213 km², a maximum length of 54 km and, at its widest, is 12 km. The lake basin has tectonic-glacial origins and its volume is 37 km³.

Its main tributaries are the Ticino, the Maggia, the Toce (by which it receives the outflow of Lake Orta) and the Tresa (which is the sole emissary of Lake Lugano). The rivers Verzasca, Giona, and Cannobino also flow into the lake. Its outlet is the Ticino which, in turn, joins the river Po just south-east of Pavia.

The lake’s jagged banks are surrounded by the Prealps of Piedmont and Lombardy. The western bank is in Piedmont (provinces of Novara and Province of Verbano-Cusio-Ossola) and the eastern in Lombardy (province of Varese), whereas the most northerly section extends thirteen kilometres into Switzerland, where it constitutes the lowest point (in terms of altitude) in that entire country. The climate is mild in both summer and winter, producing Mediterranean vegetation, with beautiful gardens growing rare and exotic plants.

Contents 1 Towns and villages on the lake 2 Islands 3 Events 4 External links

[edit] Towns and villages on the lake

Switzerland	Piedmont	Lombardy
Ranzo Gerra San Nazzaro Vira Magadino Tenero Locarno Ascona Ronco sopra Ascona Brissago Minusio	Arona Meina Lesa Belgirate Stresa Baveno Verbania Ghiffa Oggebbio Cannero Riviera Cannobio	Angera Ranco Ispra Laveno-Mombello Luino Porto Valtravaglia Maccagno Brebbia Monvalle Pino Lago Maggiore

[edit] Islands

• Brissago Islands
• Borromean Islands
  • Isola Bella
  • Isola Madre
  • Isole dei Pescatori (or Isola Superiore)
  • Isola di San Giovanni

[edit] Events

The Spirit of Woodstock Festival is an annual open air festival at the end of July/beginning of August at Mirapuri.

[edit] External links

• CIPAIS Commissione Internazionale per la Protezione delle Acque Italo-Svizzere (Italian) limnologic reports on the Lake Maggiore and Lake Lugano
• Casavarese - Tourist guides on the lake, photo galleries
• Magazzeno Storico Verbanese (Italian) Historical bibliography on the region
• Waterlevels at Brissago from the Federal Office for the Environment
• Waterlevels at Locarno from the Federal Office for the Environment

Lake Maggiore from the Swiss end. In the foreground Ascona.

Sunset over the lake.