Lake Maggiore

Lake Maggiore is the most westerly of the three large prealpine lakes of Italy and the second largest after Lake Garda. It lies approximately at 45°57'N 8°38'E¿ / ¿45.95°N 8.633°E¿ / 45.95; 8.633.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 and the Tresa. 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 and the eastern in Lombardy whereas the most northerly section extends thirteen kilometres into Switzerland, where it constitutes the lowest point above sea-level in that entire country