Lake Como | |
---|---|
Location | Lombardy, Italy |
Coordinates | 46°00′N 9°16′E / 46.000°N 9.267°E |
Primary inflows | Adda, Mera |
Primary outflows | Adda |
Catchment area | 4,509 km2 (1,741 sq mi)[1] |
Basin countries | Italy, Switzerland |
Max. length | 46 km (29 mi) |
Max. width | 4.5 km (2.8 mi) |
Surface area | 146 km2 (56 sq mi) |
Average depth | 154 m (505 ft)[1] |
Max. depth | 425 m (1,394 ft) |
Water volume | 22.5 km3 (18.2 million acre⋅ft) |
Residence time | 5.5 years[1] |
Shore length1 | 160 km (99 mi) |
Surface elevation | 198 m (650 ft)[1] |
Islands | Isola Comacina |
Settlements | Como, Lecco (see section) |
References | [1] |
1 Shore length is not a well-defined measure. |
Lake Como (Italian: Lago di Como [ˈlaːɡo di ˈkɔːmo], locally [ˈkoːmo][a]), also known as Lario,[b] is a lake of glacial origin in Lombardy, Italy.
It has an area of 146 square kilometres (56 sq mi), making it the third-largest lake in Italy, after Lake Garda and Lake Maggiore. At over 400 metres (1,300 ft) deep, it is the fifth-deepest lake in Europe and the deepest outside Norway; the bottom of the lake is 227 metres (745 ft) below sea level. One notable characteristic is its distinctive "Y" shape.
Lake Como has been a popular retreat for aristocrats and wealthy people since Roman times, and a very popular tourist attraction with many artistic and cultural gems. It has many villas and palaces such as Villa Olmo, Villa Serbelloni and Villa Carlotta. Many famous people have owned homes on the shores of Lake Como, including George Clooney, Madonna and Donatella Versace.
In 2014, The Huffington Post described it as the most beautiful lake in the world for its microclimate and environment with prestigious villas and villages.[2]
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