Lake Garda

Lake Garda
Location	Northern Italy
Coordinates	45°38′N 10°40′E
Primary inflows	Sarca
Primary outflows	Mincio
Catchment area	2,350 km²
Max. length	51.9 km
Max. width	16.7 km
Surface area	369.98 km²
Average depth	136 m
Max. depth	346 m
Water volume	50.35 km³
Residence time	26.8 years
Surface elevation	65 m
Islands	5 (Isola del Garda, Isola San Biagio)
Settlements	see article

Lake Garda (Italian Lago di Garda or Benaco) is the largest lake in Italy. It is located in Northern Italy, about half-way between Venice and Milan. It is in an alpine region and was formed by glaciers at the end of the last ice age. The lake and its shoreline are divided between the provinces of Verona (to the south-east), Brescia (south-west), and Trento (north). Being easily accessible from the north via the Brenner pass, the lake is a major tourist destination, including a number of exclusive hotels and resorts along its shore.

Formation and overview

Lake Garda from space.

The northern part of the lake is narrower, surrounded by mountains, the majority of which belong to the Gruppo del Baldo. The shape is typical of a moraine valley, probably having been formed under the action of a Paleolithic glacier. Although traces of the glacier's actions are evident today, in more recent years it has been hypothesized that the glacier occupied an already existing depression, created by stream erosion 5 to 6 million years ago.

The lake has five islands, the largest being Isola del Garda. Nearby is Isola San Biagio, also known as the Isola dei Conigli ("Island of the Rabbits"). Both face San Felice del Benaco, on the Brescian side. The three smaller islands are Isola dell'Olivo, Isola di Sogno and Isola di Trimelone.

The main tributary is the Sarca river, while the only emissary is the Mincio River.

Wildlife include the "Trota del Garda" or "Carpiù" (Salmo carpio), a species of salmonid living exclusively in the Garda and in some Swiss alpine lakes, usually caught in fine nets since it's a deep-water zooplankton eater (now classified as Critically Endangered). Others species present are:

• Bleak
• Brown trout
• Chub
• Common carp
• Common whitefish
• Eel
• Burbot, Lota lota, a species of Gadid fish
• Northern Pike
• Perch
• Tench

Localities and sights

The ancient fortified town of Sirmione, located on the south of the lake, is one particularly popular destination, home to the Virgilio & Catullo Spa Complexes, as well as numerous restaurants, bars, hotels, fashion stores and a market. The picturesque Scaliger castle dates from the 13th century. The Roman villa was home to the poet Catullus. The sulfur springs at the tip of the peninsula have a reputation for the healing of catarrhal conditions, particularly those involving the ear.

Nearby, there is Gardaland, one of the most famous parks in Italy.

The Communes of Lake Garda

Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol	Veneto	Lombardy
Province of Trento (clockwise: west to east)	Province of Verona (clockwise: north to south)	Province of Brescia (clockwise: south to north)
Riva del Garda Nago-Torbole	Malcesine Brenzone Torri del Benaco Garda Bardolino Lazise Castelnuovo del Garda Peschiera del Garda	Sirmione Desenzano del Garda Lonato Padenghe sul Garda Moniga del Garda Manerba del Garda San Felice del Benaco Salò Gardone Riviera Toscolano-Maderno Gargnano Tignale Tremosine Limone sul Garda

View from Torbole over the water.

See also

• Battle of Lake Benacus, in which Roman forces defeated the Alamanni on the shores of Lake Garda, in 268.
• Battle of Solferino and San Martino in 1859, during the Italian Risorgimento. The terrible aftermath of this battle led to the Geneva Convention and the formation of the Red Cross.
• Benito Musolini established the capital of his rump Italian Social Republic in 1943 in a villa in the town of Salò on its shores. It served as a nexus for military operations and communications for German troops during World War Two.

Image gallery

• 
  Tremosine sul Garda
• 
  Riva del Garda
• 
  Punta San Vigilio
• 
  View from Gargnano
• 
  View from Malcesine

External links

Media related to Lago di Garda at Wikimedia Commons

• Ferry Services on Italian Lakes - Lake Garda, together with general information on the lake and its settlements.
• A complete guide to Lake Garda, with over 300 pictures from all around the lake.