GARDA, LAKE OF, the most easterly and the most ex tensive of the Lombard lakes (the Lacus Benacus of the Romans), surpassed in the Alpine region only by those of Geneva and Constance. The lake is now divided between the provinces of Verona, Brescia and Trento. Its broad basin orographically repre sents the southern portion of the valley of the Adige, though that river now flows through a narrow trench which is separated from the lake by the long narrow ridge of the Monte Baldo (7,277 ft.). The lake is fed by the Sarca at its north end, while at the southern extremity of the lake the Mincio flows out, on its way to join the Po. The area is about 143 sq.m., length 3 2 + m., greatest breadth about 1 o m., height of surface above sea-level 216 ft. and the greatest depth 1,135 feet. Its upper northern end is nar row, but between Garda (east) and Salo (west) the lake expands gradually into a nearly circular basin. Owing to this conformation the lake is much exposed to sudden and violent winds. The steep grey limestone crags of Monte Baldo, on the eastern side of the lake, contrast strongly with the rich vegetation on the western and southern shores. The portion of the western shore that extends from Gargnano to Salo is the most sheltered and warmest part of the region, so that not merely does it resemble one con tinuous garden (producing lemons, figs, mulberries and olives) but is frequented in winter. The lovely promontory of Sermione (anc. Sirmio) at the southern end of the lake, has also an extremely luxuriant vegetation. It was a favourite residence of Catullus ; but the large ruins of a Roman villa on the promon tory belong to the imperial period, while there are also remains of the Lombard period, and a fine castle of the Scaligers. At the south end of the lake are the towns of Peschiera (14 a m. by rail from Verona on the east) and of Desenzano (172 m. by rail from Brescia on the west), which are 84 m. distant from each other. There is a regular steamer service from these two towns. On the west shore of the lake are Salo, Maderno, Toscolano (a place im portant in the early history of the printing press), Gargnano and Limone, while the rugged east shore can boast only of Bardolino and Garda. At the northern end of the lake is Riva.