Lake Como | Lake, Italy - Encyclopedia Britannica

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External Websites

• CNN travel - The world�s most glamorous lake attracts celebrities, new hotels
• Official Tourism Site of Lake Como, Italy

Ask the Chatbot a Question Also known as: Lacus Larius, Lago di Como, Lario Written and fact-checked by Britannica Editors Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree.... Britannica Editors History Table of Contents Table of Contents Ask the Chatbot

Lake Como, lake in Lombardy, northern Italy, 25 miles (40 km) north of Milan; it lies at an elevation of 653 feet (199 metres) in a depression surrounded by limestone and granite mountains that reach an elevation of about 2,000 feet (600 metres) in the south and more than 8,000 feet (2,400 metres) in the northeast. Lake Como has three branches of approximately equal length (about 16 miles [26 km]). One stretches northward past Colico; of the other two, one stretches southwestward to the city of Como, the other southeastward beyond Lecco (this branch also known as Lecco Lake), with Bellagio Promontory marking the bifurcation.

Lake Como is about 29 miles (47 km) long and up to 2.5 miles (4 km) wide, with an area of 56 square miles (146 square km) and a maximum depth of 1,358 feet (414 metres). It receives the Adda River, which enters it near Colico and issues from it at Lecco, and also the waters of numerous other rivers and mountain streams, including the Mera. It is subject to frequent floods and is swept by two winds, the tivano from the north in the morning and the breva from the south in the afternoon. Its northern arm once probably extended as far as Chiavenna, enclosing the area now covered by Mezzola Lake. Como is associated with the Classical writings of Virgil, the two Plinys, and Claudian.

Italian: Lago di Como (Show more) Also called: Lario (Show more) Latin: Lacus Larius (Show more) See all related content

A luxuriant lakeshore vegetation includes vines and fig, pomegranate, olive, chestnut, and oleander trees. There is fishing for trout, eel, and agoni, a type of herring, but pollution has much reduced the fish population. The lake is famous for the natural beauty of its setting and for the handsome villas on its shores. Among the many noted lakeside resorts are Como, Lecco, Bellagio, Tremezzo, Menaggio, and Varenna. Several towns are connected by steamer services.

Britannica Quiz Water and its Varying Forms The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica This article was most recently revised and updated by Amy Tikkanen.