GARDA, LAGO Di, one of the most remarkable of the Alpine lakes, and the largest in Italy, was the Lacus Benaeus of the Romans. Its modern name is derived from the small village of Garda, situated on its eastern shore, and containing 3,000 inhabi tants. G.'s chief tributary is the river Sarca, which. rises from the glacier of Monte Adamo, but it also receives several smaller streams descending from the valleys of Ledro, Tavalo, and Vesta. The northern extremity of the lake enters the territory of Trent in the Italian Tyrol. On the e., it has the province of Verona; ou the w., that of Brescia; and on the s., that of Mantua. Its greatest length; from Riva to I'cschiera, is 32 m.; and its breadth, from Desenzimo to Garda, 10 miles. Its depth is very variable; the average generally exceeds 120 ft.; in the direction of Mallesine, it reaches 700 and 800 ft.; and its maximum, as yet ascertained, is 950 English feet. The principal islands are Trimelone. Olive, and St. Pietro, The scenery is grand. Alpine spurs border the lake
on both sides, and descend steeply to its shores, but contain within themselves also many beautiful and fertile valleys. The waters of this lake are remarkably clear, and abound in fish of various kinds. Owing to the extent of its surface, and the vio lent winds to which it is exposed, waves often rise on it to a considerable height, giving its waters the appearance of a rough sea. The only outlet is the river Mincio at Peschiera, which descends to Mantua, and discharges itself into the Po. The mild eli-• mate in the district of the lake, and the beauty of its vicinity, have caused its shores to be Hued with beautiful villas. Especially attractive to the scholar is the neck of land called Semitone (the Sly7a0 of Catullus); where the remains of that poet's country-house are still traceable. After the peace of Villafranca, lake G. formed the barrier which separated Venetia from the kingdom of Italy.