Lake Maggiore. Lake Maggiore or Verbano is a large lake located on the south side of the Alps. It is the second largest lake in Italy and the largest in southern Switzerland. The lake and its shoreline are divided between the Italian regions of Piedmont and Lombardy and the Swiss canton of Ticino. Located halfway between Lake Orta and Lake Lugano, Lake Maggiore extends for about 65 kilometres between Locarno and Arona. The climate is mild in both summer and winter, producing Mediterranean vegetation, with many gardens growing rare and exotic plants. Well-known gardens include those of the Borromean and Brissago Islands, that of the Villa Taranto in Verbania, and the Alpinia Botanical Garden above Stresa. Lake Maggiore is 64.37 km long, and 3 to 5 km wide, except at the bay opening westward between Pallanza and Stresa, where it is 10 km wide. It is the longest Italian lake, although Lake Garda has a greater area. Its mean height above the sea level is 193 metres; a deep lake, its bottom is almost everywhere below sea-level: at its deepest, 179 metres below. Its form is very sinuous so that there are few points from which any considerable part of its surface can be seen at a single glance. If this lessens the effect of the apparent size, it increases the variety of its scenery. While the upper end is completely alpine in character, the middle region lies between hills of gentler form, and the lower end advances to the verge of the plain of Lombardy. Lake Maggiore is the most westerly of the three great southern prealpine lakes, the others being Lake Como and Lake Garda. The lake basin has tectonic-glacial origins and its volume is 37 cubic kilometres. The lake has a surface area of about 213 square kilometres, a maximum length of 54 km and, at its widest, is 12 km. Its main tributaries are the Ticino, the Maggia, the Toce and the Tresa. The rivers Verzasca, Giona, and Cannobino also flow into the lake. Its outlet is the Ticino which, in turn, joins the river Po just south-east of Pavia. The lake's jagged banks are surrounded by the Pennine and Lepontine Alps, and Lugano Prealps. Prominent peaks around the lake are the Gridone, Monte Tamaro, Monte Nudo and the Mottarone. The highest mountain overlooking Lake Maggiore is Monte Rosa, located about 50 kilometres west of it. The western bank is in Piedmont and the eastern in Lombardy, whereas the most northerly section extends 13 kilometres into the canton of Ticino, where it constitutes its lowest point above sea level as well as that of Switzerland. The culminating point of the lake's drainage basin is the Grenzgipfel summit of Monte Rosa at 4,618 metres above sea level. Lake Maggiore weather is humid subtropical. During winter, the lake helps to maintain a higher temperature in the surrounding region. The temperatures are cooled down in summer by the breezes that blow on the water's surface changing its colour. The area enjoys nearly 2300 hours of sunshine a year and an average annual temperature of 15.5 °C. The water of the lake has a comfortable temperature of 20 °C to 22 °C in July and August. In winter snowfall is erratic and primarily affects the higher elevations. Rainfall is heaviest in May and lowest during the winter months. Switzerland, Canton of Ticino Italy, Piedmont Region Province of Verbano-Cusio-Ossola and Province of Novara Italy, Lombardy Region Province of Varese Ranzo. Gerra. San Nazzaro. Vira. Magadino. Tenero. Locarno. Ascona. Ronco sopra Ascona. Brissago. Minusio. Muralto. Cannobio. Cannero Riviera. Oggebbio. Ghiffa. Verbania. Baveno. Stresa. Belgirate. Lesa. Meina. Arona. Dormelletto. Castelletto sopra Ticino. Sesto Calende. Angera. Ranco. Ispra. Brebbia. Besozzo. Monvalle. Leggiuno. Laveno-Mombello. Castelveccana. Porto Valtravaglia. Brezzo di Bedero. Germignaga. Luino. Maccagno. Tronzano Lago Maggiore. Pino sulla Sponda del Lago Maggiore. Borromean Islands Isola Bella. Isola Madre. Isola dei Pescatori. Isolino di San Giovanni. Scoglio della Malghera. Brissago Islands San Pancrazio. Isolino. Castelli di Cannero. Isolino Partegora. The Sacred Mountain of Ghiffa is a Roman Catholic devotional complex in the comune of Ghiffa, overlooking the Lake Maggiore. It is one of the nine Sacri Monti of Piedmont and Lombardy, included in UNESCO World Heritage list. The Spirit of Woodstock Festival is an annual open air festival at the end of July/beginning of August. It is organized in Armeno by the Mirapuri community.