Garda, Lake

Garda, Lake (gär`dä), Ital. Lago di Garda or Benaco, largest lake of Italy, 143 sq mi (370 sq km), between Lombardy and Venetia, N Italy. It is c.32 mi (52 km) long, with a maximum width of c.11 mi (18 km). The northern tip, with Riva di Trento, is an Alpine resort. The Sarca River enters the lake at the northern end; the Mincio River drains the lake. Long celebrated for their beauty and mild climate, the shores are dotted with vineyards and such well-known resorts as Torbole, Maderno, and Gardone.

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Garda, Lake

 ancient Lacus Benacus

Lake, northern Italy. Largest of the Italian lakes, it is 34 mi (54 km) long and 2 to 11 mi (3 to 18 km) wide, with a shoreline of 77.5 mi (125 km). It borders Lombardy, Veneto, and Trentino–Alto Adige. Separated from the Adige River valley by the narrow ridge of Mount Baldo, it is fed by the Sarca River at its northern end, while the Mincio flows out toward the Po River to the south. The lake is encircled by the Gardesana scenic route, opened in 1931. Well sheltered by the Alps to the north, Lake Garda has a temperate Mediterranean climate. It is a popular resort area.