This article contains a sortable table listing all major lakes of Switzerland. The table includes all still water bodies located either entirely or partly in Switzerland, both natural and artificial, that have a surface area of at least 30 hectares (74 acres), regardless of water volume, maximum depth or other metric. These lakes are ranked by area, the table including also the elevation above sea level and maximum depth. They are either natural (type N), natural but used as reservoirs (NR) or fully artificial (A).
Along with the mountains, lakes constitute a major natural feature of Switzerland, with over 1,000 km (620 mi) of shores within the country. [Nb 1] Lakes, large and small, can be found in almost all cantons and provide an important source of water, leisure opportunities, as well as suitable habitat for fish-eating birds. The two most extensive, Lake Geneva and Lake Constance, are amongst the largest in Europe and mark the border of the Swiss Plateau, along with the Alps and the Jura Mountains. The largest wholly Swiss lake is Lake Neuchâtel. The remaining lakes over 100 km2 (39 sq mi) are Lake Maggiore and Lake Lucerne. In total 103 lakes exist that are more than 30 ha (74 acres) in surface area, and a considerable number of smaller lakes. All these lakes are found in the four major river basins of Switzerland: Rhine, Rhone, Po and Danube, [Nb 2] at almost all elevations below the permanent snow line.
There are several thousand lakes in Switzerland, with estimations up to 7000, [1] although those include very small water bodies, traditionally referred to as "lakes". [Nb 3] On this list, only the 103 largest lakes, which are over 30 hectares in area, are included. Among these, 58 are over 1.0 km2, 17 are over 10 km2, and just five are over 100 km2 in area. Of these lakes, 37 are natural, 21 are natural, but are used as reservoirs, and 45 are manmade reservoirs. These 103 lakes are shared among 21 cantons, out of the 26. [Nb 4] Some of these lakes are also shared with neighboring France, Germany, Austria, and Italy (for simplicity purposes, only the total area of the lake is indicated). Four of the cantons (Grisons, Bern, Valais, and Ticino) have more than 10 of the lakes, apiece, and just over one-half of the cantons (14) have one or more lakes of over 100 km2 in area. Most of these lakes are either below 800 metres above sea level (mostly natural lakes), or above 1600 metres (mostly manmade lakes). A large majority of the lakes, 66, are located in the Rhine basin (partly via the Aare River); 17 in the Rhone basin (partly via the Doubs River); 14 in the Po River basin (mostly via the Ticino River); and six are in the Danube River basin (all via the Inn River).
Canton | By area | By elevation [Nb 5] | By max. depth | Total | Lakes/ 100 km2 (39 sq mi) | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
<1 km2 (0.4 sq mi) | 1–9.99 km2 (0.4–3.9 sq mi) | 10–99 km2 (4–38 sq mi) | +100 km2 (39 sq mi) | <800 m (2,625 ft) | 800–1,599 m (2,625–5,246 ft) | +1,600 m (5,249 ft) | <50 m (160 ft) | 50–99 m (164–325 ft) | 100–199 m (328–653 ft) | +200 m (660 ft) | |||
Aargau | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0.21 |
Bern | 8 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 9 | 2 | 5 | 7 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 16 | 0.27 |
Fribourg | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 0.36 |
Geneva | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0.71 |
Glarus | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 0.58 |
Grisons | 9 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 15 | 4 | 9 | 6 | 0 | 19 | 0.27 |
Jura | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0.12 |
Lucerne | 2 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 0.47 |
Neuchâtel | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 0.75 |
Nidwalden | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0.36 |
Obwalden | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 1.02 |
Schaffhausen | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0.34 |
Schwyz | 0 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 6 | 0.66 |
St. Gallen | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 0.20 |
Thurgau | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0.30 |
Ticino | 5 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 8 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 12 | 0.43 |
Uri | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0.19 |
Valais | 6 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 12 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 13 | 0.25 |
Vaud | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 7 | 0.22 |
Zug | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0.84 |
Zurich | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0.23 |
Switzerland | 45 | 41 | 12 | 5 | 42 | 17 | 44 | 40 | 31 | 23 | 9 | 103 | 0.25 |
Rank | Name | Type* [2] | Local names | Canton(s), neighboring countries | River basin | Area | Elevation | Max. depth | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
km² [3] | mi² | m | ft | m | ft | ||||||
1 | Lake Geneva | N | Lac Léman, Lac de Genève | Geneva, Vaud, Valais, France | Rhone | 580.03 | 223.95 | 372.0 | 1,220.5 | 310 | 1,020 |
2 | Lake Constance | N | Bodensee | St. Gallen, Thurgau, Austria , Germany | Rhine | 473.00 | 182.63 | 396 | 1,299 | 252 | 827 |
3 | Lake Neuchâtel | N | Lac de Neuchâtel, Neuenburgersee | Bern, Fribourg, Neuchâtel, Vaud | Rhine | 215.20 | 83.09 | 429.4 | 1,409 | 153 | 502 |
4 | Lake Maggiore | N | Verbano, Lago Maggiore | Ticino, Italy | Po | 210.12 | 81.13 | 193.5 | 635 | 372 | 1,220 |
5 | Lake Lucerne | N | Vierwaldstättersee | Lucerne, Nidwalden, Obwalden, Schwyz, Uri | Rhine | 113.72 | 43.91 | 433.6 | 1,423 | 214 | 702 |
6 | Lake Zurich | N | Zürichsee | St. Gallen, Schwyz, Zurich | Rhine | 88.17 | 34.04 | 405.9 | 1,332 | 136 | 446 |
7 | Untersee | N | Untersee | Schaffhausen, Thurgau, Germany | Rhine | 63.00 | 24.32 | 396 | 1,299 | 37 | 121 |
8 | Lake Lugano | N | Ceresio, Lago di Lugano | Ticino, Italy | Po | 48.67 | 18.79 | 270.5 | 887 | 288 | 945 |
9 | Lake Thun | N | Thunersee | Bern | Rhine | 47.74 | 18.43 | 557.8 | 1,830 | 215 | 705 |
10 | Lake Bienne | N | Lac de Bienne, Bielersee | Bern, Neuchâtel | Rhine | 39.51 | 15.25 | 429.1 | 1,408 | 74 | 243 |
11 | Lake Zug | N | Zugersee | Lucerne, Schwyz, Zug | Rhine | 38.41 | 14.83 | 413.6 | 1,357 | 198 | 650 |
12 | Lake Brienz | N | Brienzersee | Bern | Rhine | 29.81 | 11.51 | 563.7 | 1,849 | 260 | 850 |
13 | Lake Walen | N | Walensee | Glarus, St. Gallen | Rhine | 24.16 | 9.33 | 419.0 | 1,374.7 | 150 | 490 |
14 | Lake Morat | N | Lac de Morat (Murtensee) | Fribourg, Vaud | Rhine | 22.80 | 8.80 | 429.2 | 1,408 | 46 | 151 |
15 | Lake Sempach | N | Sempachersee | Lucerne | Rhine | 14.36 | 5.54 | 503.8 | 1,653 | 87 | 285 |
16 | Sihlsee | A | Sihlsee | Schwyz | Rhine | 10.72 | 4.14 | 889 | 2,917 | 23 | 75 |
17 | Lake Hallwil | N | Hallwilersee | Aargau, Lucerne | Rhine | 10.21 | 3.94 | 448.7 | 1,472 | 47 | 154 |
18 | Lake Gruyère | A | Lac de la Gruyère | Fribourg | Rhine | 9.60 | 3.71 | 677 | 2,221 | 75 | 246 |
19 | Lac de Joux | NR | Lac de Joux | Vaud | Rhine | 8.77 | 3.39 | 1,004 | 3,294 | 34 | 112 |
20 | Greifensee | N | Greifensee | Zurich | Rhine | 8.17 | 26.8 | 435.1 | 1,427 | 34 | 112 |
21 | Lake Sarnen | N | Sarnersee | Obwalden | Rhine | 7.38 | 2.85 | 468.4 | 1,537 | 52 | 171 |
22 | Ägerisee | N | Ägerisee | Zug | Rhine | 7.25 | 2.80 | 723.9 | 2,375 | 82 | 269 |
23 | Lake Baldegg | N | Baldeggersee | Lucerne | Rhine | 5.24 | 2.02 | 463.0 | 1,519.0 | 66 | 217 |
24 | Lago di Livigno | A | Lago di Livigno | Grisons, Italy | Danube | 4.71 | 1.82 | 1,805 | 5,922 | 119 | 390 |
25 | Schiffenensee | A | Schiffenensee, Lac de Schiffenen | Fribourg | Rhine | 4.25 | 1.64 | 532 | 1,745 | 38 | 125 |
26 | Wägitalersee | A | Wägitalersee | Schwyz | Rhine | 4.18 | 1.61 | 900 | 3,000 | 65 | 213 |
27 | Lago di Lei | A | Lago di Lei | Grisons, Italy | Rhine | 4.12 | 1.59 | 1,931 | 6,335 | 133 | 436 |
28 | Lake Sils | N | Silsersee, Lej da Segl | Grisons | Danube | 4.10 | 1.58 | 1,797 | 5,896 | 71 | 233 |
29 | Lac des Dix | A | Lac des Dix | Valais | Rhone | 3.65 | 1.41 | 2,365 | 7,759 | 227 | 745 |
30 | Lake Wohlen | A | Wohlensee | Bern | Rhine | 3.65 | 1.41 | 480 | 1,570 | 20 | 66 |
31 | Lac d'Emosson | A | Lac d'Emosson | Valais | Rhone | 3.27 | 10.7 | 1,930 | 6,330 | 161 | 528 |
32 | Klöntalersee | NR | Klöntalersee | Glarus | Rhine | 3.18 | 1.23 | 847 | 2,779 | 47 | 154 |
33 | Lake Silvaplana | N | Silvaplanersee, Lej da Silvaplauna | Grisons | Danube | 3.18 | 1.23 | 1,790 | 5,870 | 77 | 253 |
34 | Pfäffikersee | N | Pfäffikersee | Zurich | Rhine | 3.06 | 1.18 | 536 | 1,759 | 35 | 115 |
35 | Lake Lauerz | N | Lauerzersee | Schwyz | Rhine | 3.00 | 1.16 | 447 | 1,467 | 14 | 46 |
36 | Grimselsee | NR | Grimselsee | Bern | Rhine | 2.63 | 1.02 | 1,908 | 6,260 | 100 | 330 |
37 | Lake Lungern | NR | Lungerersee, Lungernsee | Obwalden | Rhine | 2.01 | 0.78 | 688 | 2,257 | 68 | 223 |
38 | Lac de Mauvoisin | A | Lac de Mauvoisin | Valais | Rhone | 2.08 | 0.80 | 1,961 | 6,434 | 180 | 590 |
39 | Lago di Poschiavo | NR | Lago di Poschiavo | Grisons | Po | 1.98 | 0.76 | 962 | 3,156 | 85 | 279 |
40 | Lai da Sontga Maria | A | Lai da Sontga Maria | Grisons, Ticino | Rhine | 1.77 | 5.8 | 1,908 | 6,260 | 86 | 282 |
41 | Mattmarksee | A | Mattmarksee | Valais | Rhone | 1.76 | 0.68 | 2,197 | 7,208 | 93 | 305 |
42 | Lago di Vogorno | A | Lago di Vogorno | Ticino | Po | 1.68 | 0.65 | 470 | 1,540 | 204 | 669 |
43 | Lac de Salanfe | A | Lac de Salanfe | Valais | Rhone | 1.62 | 0.63 | 1,925 | 6,316 | 48 | 157 |
44 | Zervreilasee | A | Zervreilasee | Grisons | Rhine | 1.61 | 0.62 | 1,862 | 6,109 | 140 | 460 |
45 | Lac de l'Hongrin | A | Lac de l'Hongrin | Vaud | Rhine | 1.60 | 0.62 | 1,255 | 4,117 | 105 | 344 |
46 | Lago Bianco | NR | Lago Bianco | Grisons | Po | 1.50 | 0.58 | 2,234 | 7,329 | 53 | 174 |
47 | Lago Ritom | NR | Lago Ritom | Ticino | Po | 1.49 | 0.58 | 1,850 | 6,070 | 69 | 226 |
48 | Oberaarsee | A | Oberaarsee | Bern | Rhine | 1.47 | 4.8 | 2,303 | 7,556 | 90 | 300 |
49 | Lai da Marmorera | A | Lai da Marmorera | Grisons | Rhine | 1.41 | 0.54 | 1,680 | 5,510 | 65 | 213 |
50 | Lac de Moiry | A | Lac de Moiry | Valais | Rhone | 1.40 | 0.54 | 2,249 | 7,379 | 120 | 390 |
51 | Limmernsee | A | Limmernsee | Glarus | Rhine | 1.36 | 0.53 | 1,857 | 6,093 | 122 | 400 |
52 | Göscheneralpsee | A | Göscheneralpsee | Uri | Rhine | 1.32 | 0.51 | 1,792 | 5,879 | 106 | 348 |
53 | Lago di Luzzone | A | Lago di Luzzone | Ticino | Po | 1.27 | 4.2 | 1,606 | 5,269 | 181 | 594 |
54 | Albigna lake | A | Lago da l'Albigna Lägh da l'Albigna | Grisons | Po | 1.26 | 0.49 | 2,163 | 7,096 | 108 | 354 |
55 | Oeschinen Lake | N | Oeschinensee | Bern | Rhine | 1.15 | 0.44 | 1,578 | 5,177 | 56 | 184 |
56 | Klingnauer Stausee | A | Klingnauer Stausee | Aargau | Rhine | 1.11 | 0.43 | 318 | 1,043 | 8.5 | 28 |
57 | Lago del Sambuco | A | Lago del Sambuco | Ticino | Po | 1.11 | 0.43 | 1,461 | 4,793 | 124 | 407 |
58 | Lac de Verbois | A | Lac de Verbois | Geneva | Rhone | 1.01 | 0.39 | 369 | 1,211 | ||
59 | Lai da Nalps | A | Lai da Nalps | Grisons | Rhine | 0.90 | 0.35 | 1,908 | 6,260 | 122 | 400 |
60 | Lac de Tseuzier | A | Lac de Tseuzier | Valais | Rhone | 0.83 | 0.32 | 1,777 | 5,830 | 140 | 460 |
61 | Sufnersee | A | Sufnersee | Grisons | Rhine | 0.82 | 0.32 | 1,401 | 4,596 | 51 | 167 |
62 | Lai da Curnera | A | Lai da Curnera | Grisons | Rhine | 0.79 | 0.31 | 1,956 | 6,417 | 136 | 446 |
63 | Lake St. Moritz | N | Lej da San Murezzan, St. Moritzersee | Grisons | Danube | 0.75 | 0.29 | 1,768 | 5,801 | 42 | 138 |
64 | Lago del Narèt | NR | Lago del Narèt | Ticino | Po | 0.73 | 0.28 | 2,310 | 7,580 | 104 | 341 |
65 | Flachsee | A | Flachsee | Aargau | Rhine | 0.71 | 0.27 | 380 | 1,250 | 7 | 23 |
66 | Lac des Brenets | N | Lac des Brenets | Neuchâtel, France | Rhone | 0.70 | 0.27 | 750 | 2,460 | 26 | 85 |
67 | Alte Aare | N | Alte Aare | Bern | Rhine | 0.70 | 0.27 | 428 | 1,404 | ||
68 | Gigerwaldsee | A | Gigerwaldsee | St. Gallen | Rhine | 0.69 | 0.27 | 1,335 | 4,380 | 135 | 443 |
69 | Lac de Moron | A | Lac de Moron | Neuchâtel, France | Rhone | 0.69 | 0.27 | 716 | 2,349 | 59 | 194 |
70 | Lac de Montsalvens | A | Lac de Montsalvens | Fribourg | Rhine | 0.66 | 0.25 | 801 | 2,628 | 50 | 160 |
71 | Räterichsbodensee | A | Räterichsbodensee | Bern | Rhine | 0.66 | 0.25 | 1,767 | 5,797 | 77 | 253 |
72 | Lac Brenet | NR | Lac Brenet | Vaud | Rhine | 0.65 | 0.25 | 1,002 | 3,287 | 18 | 59 |
73 | Daubensee | N | Daubensee | Valais | Rhine | 0.64 | 0.25 | 2,205 | 7,234 | ||
74 | Griessee | A | Griessee | Valais | Rhone | 0.64 | 0.25 | 2,386 | 7,828 | 66 | 217 |
75 | Gelmersee | NR | Gelmersee | Bern | Rhine | 0.62 | 0.24 | 1,850 | 6,070 | 42 | 138 |
76 | Lac des Toules | A | Lac des Toules | Valais | Rhone | 0.60 | 0.23 | 1,810 | 5,940 | 75 | 246 |
77 | Lake Davos | NR | Davosersee | Grisons | Rhine | 0.57 | 1.9 | 1,560 | 5,120 | 52 | 171 |
78 | Lac du Vieux Emosson | A | Lac du Vieux Emosson | Valais | Rhone | 0.55 | 0.21 | 2,205 | 7,234 | 42 | 138 |
79 | Lago di Lucendro | NR | Lago di Lucendro | Ticino | Rhine | 0.54 | 0.21 | 2,135 | 7,005 | 96 | 315 |
80 | Mauensee | N | Mauensee | Lucerne | Rhine | 0.54 | 0.21 | 503 | 1,650 | 9 | 30 |
81 | Melchsee | NR | Melchsee | Obwalden | Rhine | 0.51 | 0.20 | 1,891 | 6,204 | 18 | 59 |
82 | Niederriedsee | A | Niederriedsee | Bern | Rhine | 0.49 | 0.19 | 461 | 1,512 | 8 | 26 |
83 | Türlersee | N | Türlersee | Zurich | Rhine | 0.49 | 0.19 | 643 | 2,110 | 22 | 72 |
84 | Lac de Cleuson | A | Lac de Cleuson | Valais | Rhone | 0.48 | 0.19 | 2,186 | 7,172 | 76 | 249 |
85 | Lac de Bret | NR | Lac de Bret | Vaud | Rhone | 0.48 | 0.19 | 674 | 2,211 | 20 | 66 |
86 | Lago dei Cavagnöö | A | Lago dei Cavagnöö, Lago di Cavagnoli | Ticino | Po | 0.48 | 0.19 | 2,310 | 7,580 | 100 | 330 |
87 | Rotsee | N | Rotsee | Lucerne | Rhine | 0.47 | 1.5 | 419 | 1,375 | 16 | 52 |
88 | Engstlensee | NR | Engstlensee | Bern | Rhine | 0.46 | 0.18 | 1,851 | 6,073 | 49 | 161 |
89 | Lac des Taillères | NR | Lac des Taillères | Neuchâtel | Rhine | 0.46 | 0.18 | 1,040 | 3,410 | 7 | 23 |
90 | Schwarzsee | N | Schwarzsee | Fribourg | Rhine | 0.45 | 0.17 | 1,046 | 3,432 | 10 | 33 |
91 | Lago della Sella | NR | Lago della Sella | Ticino | Po | 0.45 | 0.17 | 2,256 | 7,402 | 30 | 98 |
92 | Arnensee | NR | Arnensee | Bern | Rhine | 0.45 | 0.17 | 1,542 | 5,059 | 50 | 160 |
93 | Lej da Vadret | N | Laj da Vadret | Grisons | Danube | 0.43 | 0.17 | 2,160 | 7,090 | ||
94 | Muttsee | NR | Muttsee | Glarus | Rhine | 0.41 | 0.16 | 2,446 | 8,025 | 68 | 223 |
95 | Lac de Biaufond | A | Lac de Biaufond | Jura, Neuchâtel, France | Rhone | 0.40 | 0.15 | 606 | 1,988 | 10 | 33 |
96 | Lago Tremorgio | NR | Lago Tremorgio | Ticino | Po | 0.40 | 0.15 | 1,851 | 6,073 | 57 | 187 |
97 | Lag da Pigniu | A | Lag da Pigniu, Panixersee | Grisons | Rhine | 0.39 | 0.15 | 1,450 | 4,760 | 42 | 138 |
98 | Amsoldingersee | N | Amsoldingersee | Bern | Rhine | 0.38 | 0.15 | 641 | 2,103 | 14 | 46 |
99 | Lago d'Isola | A | Lago d'Isola | Grisons | Po | 0.36 | 0.14 | 1,604 | 5,262 | 39 | 128 |
100 | Lai da Ova Spin | A | Lai da Ova Spin | Grisons | Danube | 0.35 | 0.14 | 1,630 | 5,350 | 64 | 210 |
101 | Hüttwilersee | N | Hüttwilersee | Thurgau | Rhine | 0.35 | 0.14 | 434 | 1,424 | 15 | 49 |
102 | Tannensee | NR | Tannensee | Obwalden | Rhine | 0.34 | 0.13 | 1,976 | 6,483 | 21 | 69 |
103 | Moossee | N | Moossee | Bern | Rhine | 0.30 | 0.12 | 521 | 1,709 | 21 | 69 |
* Types: N = natural; NR = natural but used as reservoirs; A = fully artificial
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