Lake Garda - wikipedia Lake Garda Lago di Garda Lake Garda Nago -- Torbole and the northern part of the lake Location Northern Italy Coordinates 45 ° 38 ′ N 10 ° 40 ′ E ﻿ / ﻿ 45.633 ° N 10.667 ° E ﻿ / 45.633 ; 10.667 Coordinates : 45 ° 38 ′ N 10 ° 40 ′ E ﻿ / ﻿ 45.633 ° N 10.667 ° E ﻿ / 45.633 ; 10.667 Primary inflows Sarca Primary outflows Mincio Catchment area 2,350 km ( 910 sq mi ) Basin countries Italy Max. length 51.6 km ( 32.1 mi ) Max. width 16.7 km ( 10.4 mi ) Surface area 369.98 km ( 142.85 sq mi ) Average depth 136 m ( 446 ft ) Max. depth 346 m ( 1,135 ft ) Water volume 50.35 km ( 40,820,000 acre ⋅ ft ) Residence time 26.8 years Shore length 158.4 km ( 98.4 mi ) Surface elevation 65 m ( 213 ft ) Islands 5 ( Isola del Garda, Isola San Biagio ) Settlements see article Shore length is not a well - defined measure. Lake Garda ( Italian : Lago di Garda ( ˈlaːɡo di ˈɡarda ) or Lago Benàco, Latin : Benacus ; Lombard : Lach de Garda ; Venetian : Łago de Garda ) is the largest lake in Italy. It is a popular holiday location located in northern Italy, about halfway between Brescia and Verona, and between Venice and Milan on the edge of the Dolomites. Glaciers formed this alpine region at the end of the last Ice Age. The lake and its shoreline are divided between the provinces of Verona ( to the south - east ), Brescia ( south - west ), and Trentino ( north ). The name Garda, which the lake has been seen referred to in documents dating to the eighth century, comes from the town of the same name. It is the evolution of the Germanic word warda, meaning `` place of guard '' or `` place of observation. '' Contents 1 Geography 2 Climate 3 Biology 4 History 5 Towns and villages on the lake 6 Transport 6.1 Ferry 6.2 Rail 6.3 Buses 7 Panoramas 8 References 9 External links Geography This section does not cite any sources. Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. ( May 2013 ) Lake Garda and the mountains above Malcesine. The northern part of the lake is narrower, surrounded by mountains, the majority of which belong to the Gruppo del Baldo. The shape is typical of a moraine valley, probably having been formed under the action of a Paleolithic glacier. Although traces of the glacier 's actions are evident today, in more recent years it has been hypothesised that the glacier occupied a previously existing depression, created by stream erosion 5 to 6 million years ago. The lake has numerous small islands and five main ones, the largest being Isola del Garda where in 1220 St. Francis of Assisi founded a monastery, in its place now stands a nineteenth - century building in the Venetian Gothic style. Nearby to the south is Isola San Biagio, also known as the Isola dei Conigli ( `` Island of the Rabbits '' ). Both are offshore of San Felice del Benaco, on the lake 's western side. The three other main islands are Isola dell'Olivo, Isola di Sogno, and Isola di Trimelone, all farther north near the eastern side. The main tributary is the Sarca River, others include the Ponale River ( fed by Lago di Ledro ), the Varone / Magnone River ( via the Cascate del Varone ) and various streams from both mountain sides, while the only outlet is the Mincio River ( 79 metres ( 259 ft ), at Peschiera ). The subdivision is created by the presence of a fault submerged between Sirmione and Punta San Vigilio which is almost a natural barrier that hampers the homogenization between the water of the two zones. If the water level of the Adige river is too high, excess water is diverted to the lake through the Mori - Torbole tunnel. Climate Lake Garda from space with its wind pattern The particularly mild climate favours the growth of some Mediterranean plants, including the olive tree. Citrus ( lemon ) trees can also be found, which are extremely rare at this latitude ( 46 ° North ). This greatly favoured the development of tourism since the end of the second world war. In ancient times, poets like Catullus wrote about `` Lacus Benacus '' with its mild climate vivified by the winds. The lake is oriented from north to south towards the Po Valley, so many winds typical of the lake are the result of a difference between lower and higher altitude temperatures. Due to this, winds are generated that descend from the mountains to the plains in the morning and go back to the mountains in the afternoon. The bottleneck formed by the lake basin affects the timing of the winds, many of which happen on a regular daily basis. The winds are all named, most in regional Italian dialect so a single wind may have different names. Biology Salmo carpio, also known as the carpione ( carpione del Garda or Lake Garda carpione ) is a rare salmonid fish endemic to Lake Garda. It has been introduced to a number of other lakes in Italy and elsewhere but unsuccessfully in all cases. The population in Lake Garda has been strongly declining, and is considered critically endangered ( IUCN 3.1 ). The main threats are due to overfishing, pollution and possibly competition from introduced species such as Coregonus and other Salmonidae. Adult lake trout outside the mating season are silvery with very few black spots on the body and almost none on the head. During the mating season males develop some a dark mottled body coloration. Garda lake trout reach a length of up to 50 centimeters. They live primarily in depths of 100 to 200 metres ( 330 to 660 feet ). They feed on zooplankton and bottom - dwelling crustaceans in summer. Males and females reach sexual maturity at two or three years. The mating takes place every one to two years. The spawning takes place in 50 to 300 metres ( 160 to 980 feet ) depth in the vicinity of underwater springs. The maximum age is five years. History Battle of Lake Benacus, in which Roman forces defeated the Alamanni on the shores of Lake Garda, in the year 268. Battle between Milan and Venice in 1438 following the military engineering feat of galeas per montes. Battle of Rivoli, in 1797 during the French campaign of Napoleon I in Italy against Austria. Battle of Solferino in 1859, during the Italian Risorgimento. The terrible aftermath of this battle led to the Geneva Convention and the formation of the Red Cross. The lake was the site of naval battles in 1866 between Italy and Austria. As persuaded by the Nazis, Benito Mussolini established the capital of his Italian Social Republic in late 1943 in a villa in the town of Salò on its shores. It served as a nexus for military operations and communications for German troops who occupied northern Italy in late 1943 during World War II. Towns and villages on the Lake The ancient fortified town of Sirmione, located on the south of the lake, is one particularly popular destination, home to the Virgilio & Catullo Spa Complexes, as well as numerous restaurants, bars, hotels, fashion stores and a market. The picturesque Scaliger castle dates from the 13th century. The Roman poet Catullus had a villa here, and visitors can see a ruined Roman spa named the Grotte di Catullo ( Grottoes of Catullus ) although there is no evidence linking him to this particular building. The sulfur springs at the tip of the peninsula have a reputation for healing catarrhal conditions, particularly those involving the ear. Another popular town is the town of Garda. Garda is approximately 30 kilometres ( 19 mi ) from the more popular town of Verona. Garda 's economy is based off tourism. Nearby, there is Gardaland, one of the most famous theme parks in Italy. At the northern end of the lake, the towns of Riva and Torbole are famous for winds that attract people who sail, windsurf & kiteboard. The Communes of Lake Garda Trentino - Alto Adige / Südtirol Veneto Lombardy Trentino ( clockwise : west to east ) Province of Verona ( clockwise : north to south ) Province of Brescia ( clockwise : south to north ) Riva del Garda Nago -- Torbole Malcesine Brenzone Torri del Benaco Garda Bardolino Lazise Castelnuovo del Garda Peschiera del Garda Sirmione Desenzano del Garda Lonato Padenghe sul Garda Moniga del Garda Manerba del Garda San Felice del Benaco Salò Gardone Riviera Toscolano - Maderno Gargnano Tignale Tremosine Limone sul Garda A view from the town of Torbole, looking south, over the lake. Transport Ferry Ferry boat on the lake. Infrequent ferry services connect major towns on the eastern and western shores of Lake Garda. The services run in a zig - zag manner from Desenzano del Garda to Riva del Garda, via Peschiera del Garda, Salò, Garda and Malcesine. One express ferry, on which bicycles are not allowed, operates per day : journey time from Riva del Garda to Peschiera takes 2 hours. Rail Railway stations with direct bus links include Rovereto ( to Riva del Garda ), Verona ( to Garda ), Peschiera del Garda ( to Garda ) and Desenzano del Garda ( to Salò ). Buses Buses are faster alternatives to ferry services. On Lake Garda 's eastern coast ( provinces of Verona and Trentino ), ATV ( Verona Transport Company ) provides at least five daily bus routes between Verona and Garda, with one route extending beyond Garda to Riva del Garda. Trentino Transporti provides daily bus routes between Riva del Garda and Rovereto or Trento. 162 : Verona -- Garda ( via Bussolegno ) 163 : Verona -- Garda ( via Lasize ) 164 : Verona -- Verona - Villafranca Airport ( summer only ) -- Peschiera del Garda -- Gardaland -- Garda 165 : Verona -- Garda ( via Calmasino ) 183 : Peschiera -- Garda -- Gardaland -- Malcesine ( May to October ) 184 : Garda -- Malcesine -- Riva del Garda 205 : Verona -- Garda EXPRESS ( summer only ) X05 : Verona -- Garda EXPRESS ( limited service ) On Lake Garda 's western coast ( Brescia province ), SAIA ( Brescia Mobilità ) provides regular bus services between Desenzano and Salò. S202 : Brescia -- Salò -- Campione -- Limone sul Garda -- Riva del Garda LN006 : Salò -- Desenzano del Garda ( via Cunettone ) LN007 : Salò -- Desenzano del Garda ( via Raffa ) LN027 : Salò -- Desenzano del Garda ( via Moniga ) Panoramas Panoramic view from Monte Baldo of Lake Garda and the communes of Riva Del Garda and Nago - Torbole at the far right Panoramic view of Lake Garda from Cima Comer References Jump up ^ Catherine Richards ( 2011 ). Lake Como, Lake Lugano, Lake Maggiore, Lake Garda - The Italian Lakes. Hunter Publishing, Inc. p. 91. ISBN 978 - 1 - 58843 - 770 - 9. ^ Jump up to : Froese, Rainer and Pauly, Daniel, eds. ( 2006 ). `` Salmo carpio '' in FishBase. April 2006 version. ^ Jump up to : Crivelli, A.J. 2006. Salmo carpio In : IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2010.1. Downloaded on 2 April 2010 ^ Jump up to : S. Melotto, G. Alessio ( 2006 ) Biology of carpione, Salmo carpio L., an endemic species of Lake Garda ( Italy ) Journal of Fish Biology 37, 687 -- 698. Jump up ^ `` salmon - likes up to 10 kg > > Salmo carpio ''. Retrieved 28 November 2016. Jump up ^ `` Salmo carpio summary page ''. Retrieved 28 November 2016. Jump up ^ `` Lake Garda Resorts ''. www.lakegardaholidays.co.uk. Retrieved 28 September 2016. External links Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Lake Garda. Wikimedia Commons has media related to Lake Garda. Wikisource has the text of the 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica article Garda, Lake of. VisitGarda is the official website for the promotion of tourism of Lake Garda. Gardalombardia is the official website for the promotion of tourism of the western coast of Lake Garda. Brescia Tourism is the official tourism board website of Brescia and Garda Lake. `` Garda, Lake of ''. Encyclopædia Britannica. 11 ( 11th ed. ). 1911. Lake Garda at Curlie ( based on DMOZ ) Mylake app Discovering Lake Garda - official Blog lake Garda Trentino Lake Garda ( Lago di Garda, Benaco ) Italy Lombardy ( Province of Brescia ) Veneto ( Province of Verona ) Trentino - Alto Adige / Südtirol ( Province of Verona ) Settlements Bardolino Brenzone Castelnuovo del Garda Desenzano del Garda Garda Gardone Riviera Gargnano Lazise Limone sul Garda Malcesine Manerba del Garda Moniga del Garda Nago - Torbole Padenghe sul Garda Peschiera del Garda Riva del Garda Salò San Felice del Benaco Sirmione Tignale Torri del Benaco Toscolano - Maderno Tremosine Islands Isola del Garda Isola dell'Olivo Isola San Biagio Isola di Sogno Isola di Trimelone Rivers Mincio Sarca Wines Bardolino People Catullus Gabriele D'Annunzio Landmarks of Lombardy Accademia Carrara di Belle Arti di Bergamo Basilica of Sant'Andrea, Mantua Bellagio Cappella Colleoni Castelseprio Certosa di Pavia Como Cathedral Cremona Cathedral Crespi d'Adda Ducal palace, Mantua Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, Milan Lake Como Lake Garda Milan Cathedral Monastery of San Salvatore, Brescia Monte Isola Monza Cathedral Palazzo del Te Porta Nuova, Milan Rock Drawings in Valcamonica Royal Villa of Monza Sacri Monti of Lombardy San Michele Maggiore, Pavia San Siro Stadium Stelvio National Park Torrazzo of Cremona Landmarks of Veneto Basilica di San Zeno Basilica of Saint Anthony of Padua Basilica Palladiana Castelvecchio Bridge Dolomiti Bellunesi National Park Lake Garda Orto botanico di Padova Sant'Anastasia Scrovegni Chapel Teatro Olimpico Verona Arena Villa Barbaro Villa Capra `` La Rotonda '' Walls of Montagnana GND : 4139154 - 8 VIAF : 239869389 Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Lake_Garda&oldid=846562207 '' Categories : Lakes of Lombardy Lakes of Trentino - Alto Adige / Südtirol Subalpine lakes of Italy Waterways of Italy Lakes of Trentino Province of Brescia Province of Verona Garda Mountains Hidden categories : Coordinates on Wikidata Articles containing Italian - language text Articles containing Latin - language text Articles containing Lombard - language text Articles containing Venetian - language text Articles needing additional references from May 2013 All articles needing additional references Wikipedia articles incorporating a citation from the 1911 Encyclopaedia Britannica with Wikisource reference Articles with Curlie links Use dmy dates from May 2014 Wikipedia articles with GND identifiers Wikipedia articles with VIAF identifiers Talk Contents About Wikipedia Wikivoyage Afrikaans Alemannisch Azərbaycanca Беларуская Български Català Чӑвашла Čeština Cymraeg Dansk Deutsch Eesti Ελληνικά Español Esperanto Euskara فارسی Français Gaeilge Galego 한국어 Հայերեն Hrvatski Bahasa Indonesia Italiano עברית ქართული Kiswahili Latina Latviešu Lëtzebuergesch Lietuvių Limburgs Lumbaart Magyar Македонски მარგალური Bahasa Melayu Nederlands Nedersaksies 日本 語 Norsk Norsk nynorsk Piemontèis Polski Português Română Rumantsch Русский Scots Shqip Sicilianu Simple English Slovenčina Slovenščina Српски / srpski Srpskohrvatski / српскохрватски Suomi Svenska ไทย Türkçe Українська Vèneto Tiếng Việt West - Vlams 中文 58 more Edit links This page was last edited on 19 June 2018, at 14 : 36 ( UTC ). 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Question: what area of italy is lake garda in
Answer: northern Italy, about halfway between Brescia and Verona, and between Venice and Milan on the edge of the Dolomites