Lake Garda

(Local Name: Lago di Garda) Regions: Lombardia, Veneto and Trentino-Alto Adige

Provinces: Brescia (BS), Verona (VR) and Trento (TN)

Altitude: 65m/215ft

Situation

With an expanse of 370 sq.km/143 sq.mi of deep blue water, Lake Garda (Lago di Garda), the Roman Lacus Benacus, is the largest of the north Italian lakes (52km/32mi long, 5-16.5km/3-10mi wide, up to 346m/1,142ft deep), lying in a deeply eroded valley between Venetia and Lombardy. Its main feeder in the north is the River Sarca, and its outlet at the south end is the Mincio, which flows into the Po.

General information

The northern part of the lake is narrow and fjord-like; towards the south end the shores slope down gradually to the extensive morainic cirque left by the old Garda glacier. The east side of the lake is separated from the Adige valley by the 80km/50mi long limestone ridge of Monte Baldo (2,200m/7,260ft). The west side, hemmed in towards its northern end by sheer rock faces, opens out between Gargnano and Salò to form the beautiful and fertile coastal strip known as the Riviera Bresciana. Until 1918 the northern tip of Lake Garda, with Riva and Torbole, belonged to Austria. Climate

The climate in the area of Lake Garda is extraordinarily mild, and snow is rare. The lake is seldom entirely calm, and in a storm coming from the north can be quite rough. In fine weather a very cold wind known as the ora blows around midday in winter and spring. Sailing and surfing is popular on the lake.

Flora and fauna

The vegetation is luxuriant on the more sheltered stretches of the lakeside, in places almost Mediterranean. Olives grow up to 300m/1,000ft, and palms, cedars, magnolias and agaves flourish in the gardens. The lake fish are excellent.