Garda, Lake (gär'dä) [key], Ital. Lago di Garda or Benaco, largest lake of Italy, 143 sq mi (370 sq km), between Lombardy and Venetia, N Italy. It is c.32 mi (52 km) long, with a maximum width of c.11 mi (18 km). The northern tip, with Riva di Trento, is an Alpine resort. The Sarca River enters the lake at the northern end; the Mincio River drains the lake. Long celebrated for their beauty and mild climate, the shores are dotted with vineyards and such well-known resorts as Torbole, Maderno, and Gardone.
