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Lake Geneva

Coordinates: 46°26′N 6°33′E / 46.433°N 6.550°E / 46.433; 6.550
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Lake Geneva
LocationSwitzerland, France
Coordinates46°26′N 6°33′E / 46.433°N 6.550°E / 46.433; 6.550
Primary inflowsRhone, Venoge, Dranse, Aubonne
Primary outflowsRhone
Catchment area7,975 km² (3,079 mi²)
Basin countriesSwitzerland, France
Max. length73 km (45 mi)
Max. width14 km (8.7 mi)
Surface area582 km² (225 mi²)
Average depth153.4 m
Max. depth310 m
Water volume89 km³
Residence time11.4 years
Surface elevation372 m
IslandsIle de la Harpe, Ile de Peilz (islets)
SettlementsGeneva (CH), Lausanne (CH), Evian (F), Montreux (CH), Thonon (F), Vevey (CH) (see list)

Lake Geneva or Lake Léman (French: Lac Léman, Léman, Lac de Genève) is the second largest freshwater lake in Central Europe in terms of surface area (after Lake Balaton). 60% of it comes under the jurisdiction of Switzerland (cantons of Vaud, Geneva, and Valais), and 40% under France (Haute-Savoie).

The crescent-shaped lake, formed by a withdrawing glacier, narrows around Yvoire on the southern shore, the lake can thus be divided into the "Grand Lac" (Large Lake) to the east and the "Petit Lac" (Small Lake) to the west.

View of the Chablais Alps from Montreux

It lies on the course of the Rhône River. The river has its source at the Rhone Glacier near the Grimsel Pass to the east of the lake and flows down through the Canton of Valais, entering the lake between Villeneuve and St. Gingolph, before flowing slowly towards its egress at Geneva. Other tributaries are La Dranse, L'Aubonne, La Morges, Venoge, and Veveyse.

The Lake Geneva has an alpine character. The Chablais Alps border its southern shore, the western Bernese Alps lie over its eastern side. The high summits of Grand Combin and Mont Blanc are even visible from a few places.

By the 1960s, the lake had ceased being a transport artery for commercial and construction materials.[citation needed] In the late 1960s pollution made it dangerous to swim at some beaches of the lake; indeed, tourists taking a ride in the local submarine had near zero visibility (it was eventually sold).[citation needed] By the 1980s, intense environmental pollution (eutrophication) had almost wiped out all the fish.[citation needed] Today, pollution levels have been dramatically cut back, and it is again considered safe to swim in the lake.[citation needed] Major leisure activities practiced include sailing, wind surfing, boating (including water skiing and wakeboarding), rowing, scuba diving and bathing.

As an interesting historical and scientific footnote, in 1827, Lake Geneva was the site for the first measurement of the speed of sound in (fresh) water. French mathematician Jacques Charles François Sturm and Swiss Physicist Daniel Collodon used two moored boats, separated by a measured distance, as the transmit and receive platforms for the sounds of exploding gunpowder. The loud airborne sound coupled into the lake, establishing a loud underwater sound that could be measured at a distance. The flash of the exploding gunpowder provided the visual starting cue for the timepiece, and the underwater explosion sound striking a bell provided the finish cue.[citation needed]

The shore between Nyon and Lausanne is called La Côte because it is "flatter". Between Lausanne and Vevey it is called Lavaux and is famous for its hilly vineyards. [citation needed]

The lake's surface is the lowest point of the cantons of Valais and Vaud.

Compagnie Générale de Navigation sur le lac Léman (CGN) operates boats on the lake.

Name

J.M.W. Turner: Lake Geneva from Montreux, 1810.

The first recorded name of the lake is Lacus Lemannus from Roman times; it became Lacus Lausonius, although this name was also used for a town or district on the lake, Lacus Losanetes and then the Lac de Lausanne in the Middle Ages. Following the rise of Geneva it became Lac de Genève (translated into English as Lake Geneva). In the 18th century, Lac Léman was revived in French. It is often called Lac de Genève in Geneva [1][2] and Lac Léman elsewhere but the customary name in French is now Lac Léman. Certain maps name the lake the Lac d'Ouchy (after the port located on the Lausanne lake shore). [citation needed] In contemporary English, the name Lake Geneva is predominant.

A note on pronunciation (in the IPA) —

English: Lake Geneva /leɪk dʒəˈni:və/
French: Lac Léman [lak leˈmɑ̃] or Lac de Genève [lak ʒøˈnɛv]
German: Genfersee or Genfer See [ˈgɛnfəʁˈzeː]
Italian: Lago Lemano, Lago di Ginevra [ˈlago di dʒiˈnɛvra].

Miscellaneous

Cities and places

View of Lake Geneva from Saint-Sulpice.
View of Lake Geneva.
rCGN paddle steamer Montreux leaving Évian-les-Bains in July 2002.
Jet d'eau, Lake Geneva, Geneva.
List of cities and places on Lake Geneva
Starting from the entry of Rhône River on the east end, with the southern shore to the left.
Southern shore Northern shore
Grand Lac
Petit Lac

References

  1. ^ "Schuey vrooms into £30m home". The Sun. 2007-11-30. Retrieved 2008-11-03.