Lake Geneva facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lake Geneva |
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Satellite image
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| Location | Switzerland, France |
| Coordinates | 46°26′N 6°33′E / 46.433°N 6.550°E |
| Primary inflows | Rhone, La Venoge, Dranse, Aubonne |
| Primary outflows | Rhone |
| Catchment area | 7,975 km² (3,079 mi²) |
| Basin countries | Switzerland, France |
| Max. length | 73 km (45 mi) |
| Max. width | 14 km (8.7 mi) |
| Surface area | 580.03 km² (223.95 mi²) |
| Average depth | 154.4 m |
| Max. depth | 310 m |
| Water volume | 89 km³ |
| Residence time | 11.4 years |
| Surface elevation | 372 m |
| Islands | Île de Peilz, Château de Chillon, Île de Salagnon, Île de la Harpe, Île Rousseau, Île de Choisi |
| Settlements | Geneva (CH), Lausanne (CH), Evian (F), Montreux (CH), Thonon (F), Vevey (CH) |
Lake Geneva, also known as Lac Léman (in French) or Genfersee (in German), is a huge and beautiful lake in the heart of Europe. It sits right on the border between two countries: Switzerland and France. Most of the lake, about three-fifths, is in Switzerland.
This amazing lake is the second largest in Central Europe. It's about 580 square kilometers (224 square miles) in size. At its deepest point, it plunges down 310 meters (1,017 feet), making it the deepest lake in France!
The main river that flows into Lake Geneva is the Rhone. Other important rivers joining the lake are the Dranse, the Venoge, and the Aubonne. The Rhone River actually flows right through the lake and then exits near the city of Geneva. It takes about 11.4 years for all the water in the lake to completely refresh itself!
Many important cities are located along the shores of Lake Geneva. In Switzerland, you'll find Geneva, Lausanne, Montreux, and Vevey. On the French side, the biggest city is Thonon-les-Bains, and the most famous is Évian-les-Bains, known for its bottled water.
Small Islands of Lake Geneva
Lake Geneva is home to six small islands. Each one has its own unique story or location:
- Île de la Harpe is near the town of Rolle. It covers about 2,368 square meters.
- Île de Salagnon is also called Île aux Mouettes. It's located near Clarens and is about 1,450 square meters.
- Île de Peilz is a very small island, only 40 square meters. You can find it near Villeneuve VD.
- Île de Choisi is about 120 square meters and is located near Bursinel.
- Île Rousseau is in the city of Geneva. It's located right where the Rhone River leaves the lake and is about 3,390 square meters.
- The island with Chillon castle is the largest of the islands, covering 5,070 square meters. This island is famous for its historic castle.
The Pierres du Niton
The Pierres du Niton are two large, unusual stones found in Lake Geneva near the city of Geneva. These stones are called erratic stones. This means they were carried a long distance by a glacier during the last Ice Age and then left behind when the ice melted. They are a cool reminder of how powerful glaciers can be!
Images for kids
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View of the lake and the Chablais Alps from Caux
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CGN paddle steamer in 1926 near Vevey with the Dents du Midi in background
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Île de Peilz
See also
In Spanish: Lago Lemán para niños
