Lake Lucerne (German: Vierwaldst?ttersee, lit. "Lake of the Four Forested Cantons") is a lake in central Switzerland and the fourth largest in the country.The lake has a complicated shape, with bends and arms reaching from the city of Lucerne into the mountains. It has a total area of 114 km? (44 sq mi), an elevation of 434 m (1,424 ft), and a maximum depth of 214 m (702 ft). Its volume is 11.8 km?. Much of the shoreline rises steeply into mountains up to 1,500 m above the lake, resulting in many picturesque views including those of Mount Rigi and Mount Pilatus.The Reuss River enters the lake at Fl?elen (in the canton of Uri, the part called Urnersee) and exits at Lucerne. The lake also receives the Muota (at Brunnen) Engelberger Aa (at Buochs), the Sarner Aa (at Alpnachstad).It is possible to circumnavigate the lake by road, though the route is slow, twisted, and goes through tunnels part of the way. Steamers and other passenger boats ply between the different towns on the lake. It is a popular tourist destination, both for native Swiss and foreigners, and there are many hotels and resorts along the shores. In addition, the meadow of the R?tli, traditional site of the founding of the Swiss Confederation, is on the southeast shore of the lake. A 35 km commemorative walkway, the Swiss Path, was built around the lake to celebrate the country's 700th anniversary.
Area of catchment (m2)
2124000000.000000
Area total (m2)
113600000.000000
City
Lucerne
Depth (µ)
104.000000
214.000000
Elevation (µ)
433.000000
Frozen
in the 17th and 19th century; Lucerne Bay and Lake Alpnach in 1929 and 1963
Length (km)
30000.000000
Location
Central Switzerland
Shore length (µ)
143700.000000
Volume (µ³)
11800000000.000000
Width (mm)
20000.000000
Comment
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