Como, Lake

A villa on the shore of Lake Como, in Lombardy, Italy. The steep hillsides bordering the lake are covered with walnut and chestnut plantations.

Lake in northwest Lombardy region, northern Italy, at the foot of the Alps. It is formed by the waters of the River Adda, which enters at the northeast and exits at the southeast extremity of the lake. Lake Como is about 50 km/30 mi long, but 25 km/15 mi from its northern end it divides into two branches; the southeast branch is also called Lago di Lecco. Its surface is 199 m/653 ft above sea level, but its maximum depth is 410 m/1,345 ft. There are numerous fashionable resorts on its shores, including Bellagio, Cadenabbia, and Cernobbio.

Lake Como is sometimes called Lake Lario, an adaptation of the ancient Roman name.