Maggiore, LAGO

Maggiore, LAGO, one of the largest lakes in Italy, the Lacus Verbannus of the Romans, is situated for the most part in Italy, but also partly in the Swiss canton of Ticino. It is 39 miles in length, and varies in breadth from $\backslash frac\{1\}\{2\}$ mile to $5\backslash frac\{1\}\{2\}$ miles. It lies 646 feet above the level of the sea, and has a maximum depth of 1158 feet. The river Ticino flows through it. In a south-western expansion of the lake are the Borromeo Isles (q.v.). On the north and west it is surrounded by granitic mountains, 7000 feet high, on the south and east by vineyard-covered hills.