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Lake Maggiore (or Verbano) is a lake basin of north-eastern Piedmont which borders with Lombardy and Switzerland, is the second largest among Italian lakes after Lake Garda. Sheltered by the Alpine ring, it occupies a valley gully probably of tectonic origin; it extends for 65 Km with a prevalently NNE-SSW direction from Magadino to Sesto Calende; its maximum width is of 4.5 Km (between Cannero Riviera and Germignaga, exluding the Borromeo Gulf) and has a surface of 212.2 Km Its major surface is to be found in Italian territory, where it acts as a boundary between the region Piedmont and region Lombardy; only the extreme northern sector (42 Km) belongs to Switzerland. Its coastline is 166 Km long. |
Lake Maggiore's water receiving basin is very extensive including the valleys of the Ticino and the Toce rivers, besides that of the Maggia torrent; moreover, it receives even the waters of Lake Lugano through the Tresa stream, of Lake Orta through the Strona stream, of Lake Varese through the Bardello stream and of the Mergozzo Lake, which the alluvium deposits of the Toce river separates from the Borromeo Gulf; the only effluent is the Ticino river that leaves the lake at Sesto Calende, flowing into the Po River from the left, downstream of Pavia
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Particularly favoured by a mild climate and equiped with excellent Hotel facilities and numerous camping sites, Lake Maggiore is a highly sought after tourist destination; on its shores many are the localities of international renown that are to be found, among which Arona, Belgirate, Stresa (which a modern cableway connects to the ski slopes of Mottarone), Baveno, Verbania, Cannero Riviera and Cannobio.
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Cruising the lake with modern boats and fast hydrofoils is a very developed activity; there is a frequent ferry service for cars and passengers between Intra (Verbania) and Laveno. For sport fans, there exists a vast range of choices: fishing, water skiing, rowing, sailing, swimming, the possibility of using winter sport facilities in Mottarone, Pian di Sole and Piancavallo and of the
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three golf courses in Stresa, Gignese and Premeno. Heavy traffic roads and railroad connect the main centers with each other. The Lake Maggiore area with its 179 Hotels, 43 camping sites is undoubtedly the most receptive tourist area in Piedmont.
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