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Lake Garda

geography Maturity 7-9 Next article →

Lake Garda is the largest lake in Italy.

Jezioro Garda - widok z Alp
Jezioro Garda - widok z Alp

It sits in northern Italy near the edge of the Alps. The lake is located between the cities of Brescia and Milan to the west. To the east, it lies near Verona and Venice. The shoreline is shared by three provinces named Brescia, Verona, and Trentino. It is a very popular place for people to go on holiday. The lake is a beautiful part of the mountain landscape.

This lake was shaped by huge pieces of ice called glaciers. These glaciers moved through the land at the end of the last ice age. They carved out a deep valley for the water to fill. To the south, you can see a series of gentle, circular hills. These are called moraine hills and were made by the moving ice.

Colline moreniche del Garda
Colline moreniche del Garda

The northern part of the lake sits deep inside the mountains. The southern part opens up into a flatter area called a plain.

People have lived around the lake for a very long time. In ancient Roman times, the lake was called Benacus.

Some people even thought the lake was a god. The name Garda comes from a Germanic word meaning a place of safety or observation. This name likely comes from the Lombard people who lived there long ago. Many towns near the water have names that show this history. The area has been a meeting place for many different groups of people.

There are many interesting facts about the water and the land. The Sarca River is the main river that flows into the lake. The Mincio River is the only way for water to flow out.

L00 130 Peschiera del Garda, MFS Mincio
L00 130 Peschiera del Garda, MFS Mincio

There are five main islands in the lake, with Isola del Garda being the largest.

View malcesine lake garda veneto italy
View malcesine lake garda veneto italy

The climate is very mild, which allows olive and lemon trees to grow.

View malcesine lake garda veneto italy
View malcesine lake garda veneto italy

This is quite rare for this part of the world.

The lake is home to many unique living things. One very rare fish is called the carpione. It lives only in Lake Garda and is currently in danger.

Jezioro Garda - widok z Alp
Jezioro Garda - widok z Alp

You can also find lake trout that grow up to 50 centimeters long. The winds also play a big role in life here.

Lago di Garda venti
Lago di Garda venti

Winds blow from the mountains in the morning and head back in the afternoon. This regular pattern of wind is part of the lake's special nature.

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🖼️ Images & Media (26)
File:Jezioro Garda - widok z Alp.jpg
Jezioro Garda - widok z Alp.jpg
File:Colline moreniche del Garda.jpg
Colline moreniche del Garda.jpg
File:Lago di Garda venti.jpg
Lago di Garda venti.jpg
File:Lago di Garda,Sirmione, Grotte di Catullo.jpg
Lago di Garda,Sirmione, Grotte di Catullo.jpg
File:View malcesine lake garda veneto italy.JPG
View malcesine lake garda veneto italy.JPG
File:Italy - Sirmione - Scaligero Castle.jpg
Italy - Sirmione - Scaligero Castle.jpg
File:Desenzano del Garda Torre di San Martino della Battaglia Esterno 06.jpg
Desenzano del Garda Torre di San Martino...
File:Vittoriale il complesso monumentale.jpg
Vittoriale il complesso monumentale.jpg
File:Fontata Entrata Gardaland.jpg
Fontata Entrata Gardaland.jpg
File:L00 130 Peschiera del Garda, MFS Mincio.jpg
L00 130 Peschiera del Garda, MFS Mincio.jpg
File:SAIA MAN Lions City 360 Sirmione 20120807.JPG
SAIA MAN Lions City 360 Sirmione 20120807.JPG
File:Ciclopista del Garda 02.jpg
Ciclopista del Garda 02.jpg

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