GUIDE TO THE LAKES OF ITALY

Italy has more than 1,000 lakes, most of them have been artificially created by damming river valleys. Many of the lakes are well known but several others offer a great off the tourist path for a few days visit.

In the Prealps of the Lombardy region are the glacial lakes of Lago Maggiore and Lago di Como (Como is the deepest lake in Italy at 410 meter). In the Veneto Region is Lago di Garda, Italy's largest lake and one of the best outdoor recreation destinations.

Italy also has coastal lakes, such as Lago di Lesina, separated from the sea by a narrow strip of land. Volcanic lakes such as Lago Bolsena, Lago Vico, and Lago Bracciano. Or Lago Trasimeno in the Umbria Region, which has formed by a land depression.

One must remember that at one time swamps and ponds covered most of flat areas of Italy: these have been drained over the last few hundred years. There are wetlands left over from these projects; some of the better know are Valli di Comacchio in the Emilia Romagna Region, and the Cagliari laghetto in the Sardinia Region.

Italian Coastal lagoons are also found at the mouths of many of the major rivers: the most important are the Venetian lagoon in the northern Adriatic, and the Lagoon of Orbetello on the Tuscan coast.