Lake Maggiore
| Lake Maggiore | |
|---|---|
| |
View of Lake Maggiore towards the Alps and Monte Rosa from above Laveno | |
Lake Maggiore Lake Maggiore Lake Maggiore | |
| Location | Lombardy and Piedmont, Italy Ticino, Switzerland |
| Coordinates | 46°05′53″N 08°42′53″E / 46.09806°N 8.71472°E |
| Primary inflows | Ticino, Maggia, Toce, Tresa |
| Primary outflows | Ticino |
| Catchment area | 6,599 km2 (2,548 sq mi) |
| Basin countries | Italy, Switzerland |
| Max. length | 64.37 km (40.00 mi) |
| Max. width | 10 km (6.2 mi) |
| Surface area | 212.5 km2 (82.0 sq mi) |
| Average depth | 177.4 m (582 ft) |
| Max. depth | 372 m (1,220 ft) |
| Water volume | 37.7 km3 (9.0 cu mi) |
| Residence time | 4 years |
| Surface elevation | 193 m (633 ft) |
| Islands | Brissago Islands, Borromean Islands |
| Settlements | Arona, Locarno, Luino, Stresa, Verbania (see list) |
| Location | |
Interactive map of Lake Maggiore | |
Lake Maggiore (UK: /mæˈdʒɔːreɪ, ˌmædʒiˈɔːreɪ/, US: /mɑːˈdʒɔːreɪ, məˈdʒɔːri/; Italian: Lago Maggiore Italian pronunciation: [ˈlaːɡo madˈdʒoːre]; Western Lombard: Lagh Maggior; Piedmontese: Lagh Magior; literally 'greater lake') or Verbano (pronounced [verˈbaːno]; Latin: Lacus Verbanus) is a large lake on the south side of the Alps divided between the Italian regions of Piedmont and Lombardy to the south, and the Swiss canton of Ticino to the north. Located halfway between Lake Orta and Lake Lugano, Lake Maggiore extends for about 64 kilometres (40 miles) between Locarno and Arona. It is the second largest lake in Italy and the largest in southern Switzerland.
The climate is mild in both summer and winter, producing Mediterranean vegetation, with many gardens growing rare and exotic plants. Well-known gardens include those of the Borromean and Brissago Islands, that of the Villa Taranto in Verbania, and the Alpinia Botanical Garden above Stresa.
Lake Maggiore is drained by the river Ticino, a main tributary of the Po. Its basin also collects the waters of several large lakes, notably Lake Lugano (through the Tresa), Lake Orta (through the Toce) and Lake Varese (through the Bardello).