ASCONA – CHE BELLA

LAGO MAGGIORE

Lago Maggiore covers an area of 212.5 km², of which 80.1 % belongs to Italy with the other 19.9 % belonging to Switzerland. It extends from the southern chain of the Alps down to the edge of the Po plain. It was created by the melting of glaciers in the last ice age. Its northern end in particular is surrounded by high cliffs. The lake lies at an average height above sea level of 193 meters (approx. 600 feet), it measures 66 km in length and is up to 10 km wide. At its deepest point, it is over 1,000 feet deep (372 m). The bottom of the lake is therefore more than 170 meters (almost 600 feet) below sea level. [online Februar 2012] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lago_Maggiore