"Léman" redirects here. For the former department, see Léman (department). For other uses, see Lake Geneva (disambiguation). Lake Geneva Satellite image Location Switzerland, France Coordinates 46°26′N 6°33′E / 46.433°N 6.55°E / 46.433; 6.55Coordinates: 46°26′N 6°33′E / 46.433°N 6.55°E / 46.433; 6.55 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) (see list) Lake Geneva or Lake Léman (French: Lac Léman, Léman, German: Genfersee) is a lake in Switzerland and France. It is one of the largest lakes in Western Europe. 59.53 % (345.31 km²) of it comes under the jurisdiction of Switzerland (cantons of Vaud, Geneva, and Valais), and 40.47 % (234.71 km²) under France (Haute-Savoie). The average level of water of 372 m is controlled by the Seujet Dam near Geneva.1

Lake Geneva, formed by a retreating glacier, has a crescent shape that narrows around Yvoire on the southern shore. It can thus be divided figuratively into the "Grand Lac" (Large Lake) to the east and the "Petit Lac" (Small Lake) to the west. The Chablais Alps border its southern shore, the western Bernese Alps lie over its eastern side. The high summits of Grand Combin and Mont Blanc are visible from some places. Compagnie Générale de Navigation sur le lac Léman (CGN) operates boats on the lake. Contents 1 Name 2 Geography 3 Environment 4 Yacht racing 5 Cities and places 6 Famous residents 7 References 8 External links Name The first recorded name of the lake is Lacus Lemanus from Roman times; it became Lacus Lausonius, although this name was also used for a town or district on the lake, Lacus Losanetes and then the Lac de Lausanne in the Middle Ages.2 Following the rise of Geneva it became Lac de Genève (translated into English as Lake Geneva). In the 18th century, Lac Léman was revived in French and is the customary name in that language. In contemporary English, the name Lake Geneva is predominant. A note on pronunciation: English: Lake Geneva /ˌleɪk dʒɨˈniːvə/ French: Lac Léman [lak leˈmɑ̃] or Lac de Genève [lak də ʒøˈnɛv] German: Genfersee or Genfer See [ˈɡɛnfər ˈzeː] Italian: Lago Lemano, Lago di Ginevra [ˈlaːɡo di dʒiˈnɛːvra]. Geography

The lake lies on the course of the Rhone. The river has its source at the Rhone Glacier near the Grimsel Pass to the east of the lake and flows down through the Canton of Valais, entering the lake between Villeneuve and Le Bouveret, before flowing slowly towards its egress at Geneva. Other tributaries are La Dranse, L'Aubonne, La Morges, La Venoge, and La Veveyse. View of the lake and the Chablais Alps from Caux Lake Geneva is the largest body of water in Switzerland, and greatly exceeds in size all others that are connected with the main valleys of the Alps. It is in the shape of a crescent, with the horns pointing south, the northern shore being 95 km., the southern shore 72 km. in length. The crescent form was more regular in a recent geological period, when the lake extended to Bex, about 18 km. south of Villeneuve. The detritus of the Rhone has filled up this portion of the bed of the lake, and it appears that within the historical period the waters extended about 2 km. beyond the present eastern margin of the lake. The greatest depth of the lake, in the broad portion between Evian and Lausanne, where it is just 13 km. in width, has been measured as 310 metres, making the bottom of the lake 62 metres higher than the level of the sea. The lake's surface is the lowest point of the cantons of Valais and Vaud.3 CGN paddle steamer in 1926 near Vevey with the Dents du Midi in background

The beauty of the shores of the lake and of the sites of many of the places near its banks has long been celebrated. However it is only from the eastern end of the lake, between Vevey and Villeneuve, that the scenery assumes an Alpine character. On the south side the mountains of Savoy and Valais are for the most part rugged and sombre, while those of the northern shore fall in gentle vine-covered slopes, thickly set with villages and castles.3 The snowy peaks of the Mont Blanc are shut out from the western end of the lake by the ridge of the Voirons, and from its eastern end by the bolder summits of the Grammont, Cornettes de Bise and Dent d'Oche, but are seen from Geneva, and between Nyon and Morges. From Vevey to Bex, where the lake originally extended, the shores are enclosed by comparatively high and bold mountains, and the vista terminates in the grand portal of the defile of St. Maurice, cleft to a depth of nearly 9,000 ft. between the opposite peaks of the Dents du Midi and the Dent de Morcles.3 The shore between Nyon and Lausanne is called La Côte because it is "flatter". Between Lausanne and Vevey it is called Lavaux and is famous for its hilly vineyards.45 Environment View over the western end of the lake from La Barillette By the 1960s, the lake had ceased being a transport artery for commercial and construction materials.citation needed In the late 1960s pollution made it dangerous to swim at some beaches of the lake; indeed, tourists taking a ride in the local submarine had near zero visibility (itclarification needed was eventually solid).67 By the 1980s, intense environmental pollution (eutrophication) had almost wiped out all the fish. Today, pollution levels have been dramatically cut back, and it is again considered safe to swim in the lake.89 Major leisure activities practiced include sailing, wind surfing, boating (including water skiing and wakeboarding), rowing, scuba diving and bathing.

On a scientific footnote, in 1827, Lake Geneva was the site for the first measurement of the speed of sound in (fresh) water.10 French mathematician Jacques Charles François Sturm and Swiss Physicist Daniel Collodon used two moored boats, separated by a measured distance, as the transmit and receive platforms for the sounds of exploding gunpowder. The loud airborne sound coupled into the lake, establishing a loud underwater sound that could be measured at a distance. The flash of the exploding gunpowder provided the visual starting cue for the timepiece, and the underwater explosion sound striking a bell provided the finish cue. Yacht racing Yacht racing is a popular sport and high-performance catamarans have been developed specifically for the lake.11 The design of Alinghi 5, the defender of the 2010 America's Cup, was influenced by those racing catamarans.11 The best-known event, the "Bol d'Or" (not to be confused with other events having the same name) runs from Geneva to the end of the lake and back.12 Cities and places View of Lake Geneva from Saint-Sulpice. View from Montreux View from Lavaux CGN paddle steamer with the Jet d'Eau in Geneva List of cities and places on Lake Geneva Starting from the entry of Rhône River on the east end, with the southern shore to the left. Southern shore Northern shore Grand Lac Le Bouveret, Valais St-Gingolph in Valais and Haute-Savoie Bret, Haute-Savoie Locum Meillerie Lugrin Évian-les-Bains Amphion-les-Bains Thonon-les-Bains Anthy-sur-Léman Séchex Sciez Excenevex Yvoire Villeneuve, Vaud Château Chillon Territet Montreux Clarens La Tour-de-Peilz Vevey Corseaux St-Saphorin Rivaz Cully Lutry Paudex Pully Lausanne with Ouchy and Vidy St-Sulpice Morges Tolochenaz St-Prex Buchillon Allaman Perroy Rolle Bursinel Dully Gland Promenthoux Petit Lac Nernier, Haute-Savoie Messery Chens-sur-Léman Tougues, Haute-Savoie Hermance, Geneva Chevrens Anières Corsier Collonge-Bellerive Vésenaz Cologny Prangins Nyon, Vaud Crans-près-Céligny, Vaud Céligny, Geneva Coppet, Vaud Tannay, Vaud Mies, Vaud Versoix, Geneva Bellevue Genthod Chambésy Geneva Famous residents

Mary and Percy Shelley and Lord Byron holidayed by the lake and wrote ghost stories, one of which became the basis for the novel Frankenstein.13 Vladimir Lenin rented a little "chalet" at the French bank, near Geneva.citation needed Pop singer Phil Collins lives in a home overlooking the lake.14 Current Formula 1 driver Michael Schumacher lives with his family in a home overlooking the lake.15 References ^ Seujet / Lac Léman rhone-geneve.ch. Retrieved on 2009-07-20 ^ "Lake Geneva". Town of Evian. http://www.ville-evian.fr/anglais/DT1209539703/page/Lake-Geneva.html. Retrieved 2009-06-25.  ^ a b c John Ball, A Guide to the Western Alps, p. 254 ^ Cuckoo, Paul (26 October 2007). "Switzerland mastering the art of wine making". India Times. http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/Corporate_Dossier/Switzerland_mastering_the_art_of_wine_making/articleshow/2491742.cms. Retrieved 2009-06-24.  ^ Mourby, Adrian (19 August 2007). "European Breaks: Three suns, one grape, a lot of flavour". The Independent. http://www.independent.co.uk/travel/short-breaks/european-breaks-three-suns-one-grape-a-lot-of-flavour-462211.html. Retrieved 2009-06-24.  ^ "Convention concerning protection of the waters of Lake Geneva against pollution.". United Nations Treaty Collection. 16 November 1962. http://untreaty.un.org/unts/60001_120000/7/25/00013243.pdf. Retrieved 2009-06-24.  ^ Bergier, Jean-François; (Collective) (2008) (in French). Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse. Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse. 7. Editions Gilles Attinger, Hauterive. ISBN 2-88256-197-0. http://www.hls-dhs-dss.ch/textes/f/F8657-1-1.php.  ^ "Baisse du Phosphore dans le Léman" (in French). Commission Internationale pour la Protection du Léman (CIPEL). 9 May 2007. http://www.cipel.org/sp/IMG/pdf/Phosphore-2007.pdf. Retrieved 2009-06-26.  ^ Monna, F.; Domnik J. ; Loiseau J.-L. ; Pardos M. ; Arpagaus P. (1999). "Origin and evolution of Pb in sediments of Lake Geneva (Switzerland-France). Establishing a stable Pb record". Environmental science & technology (Washington, DC: American Chemical Society) 33 (17): 2850–2857. doi:10.1021/es9902468. ISSN 0013-936X. http://cat.inist.fr/?aModele=afficheN&cpsidt=1943833.  ^ Guichonnet, Paul (2002) (in French). Nature et histoire du Léman: le guide du Léman. Divonne-Les-Bains: Editions Cabedita. pp. 235. ISBN 2882951205, 9782882951205. http://books.google.com/?id=C2cyTH8ydD4C&dq=histoire+du+lac+léman.  ^ a b http://www.alinghi.com/en/news/news/index.php?idIndex=200&idContent=21208 ^ http://www.boldor.ch/boldor/ch/FR-CH/index.cfm ^ Sunstein, Emily W. (1989). Mary Shelley: Romance and Reality (1991 ed.). Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. pp. 478. ISBN 0801842182.  ^ Michner, Joerg (25 February 2007). "Fed-up Swiss taxpayers call time on concessions for wealthy foreigners". Telegraph.co.uk. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/1543808/Fed-up-Swiss-taxpayers-call-time-on-concessions-for-wealthy-foreigners.html. Retrieved 2009-06-24.  ^ "Schuey vrooms into £30m home". The Sun. 2007-11-30. http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/article526160.ece. Retrieved 2008-11-03.  External links Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Lake Geneva Look up Geneva in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. International Commission for the Protection of Lake Geneva (CIPEL) Lake Geneva in German, French and Italian in the online Historical Dictionary of Switzerland. Les ports du lac Léman (French) guide to the lake's harbours www.plongee-passion.ch (French) A site with stacks of information for scuba diving The official site of the Geneva police of the lake with lots of information Waterlevels Lake Geneva at Chillon Waterlevels Lake Geneva at Saint-Prex Waterlevels Lake Geneva at Geneva v · d · eMajor Lakes of Switzerland

Lake Biel (Lac de Bienne, Bielersee) · Lake Brienz (Brienzersee) · Lake Constance (Bodensee) · Lake Geneva (Lac Léman, Lac de Genève) · Lake Hallwil (Hallwilersee) · Lake Lucerne (Vierwaldstättersee) · Lake Lugano (Lago di Lugano, Ceresio) · Lake Maggiore (Lago Maggiore) · Lake Murten (Lac de Morat, Murtensee) · Lake Neuchâtel (Lac de Neuchâtel, Neuenburgersee) · Lake Sempach (Sempachersee) · Lake Thun (Thunersee) · Lake Walen (Walensee, Lake Walenstadt) · Lake Zug (Zugersee) · Lake Zurich (Zürichsee) · Sihlsee

Lake Biel (Lac de Bienne, Bielersee) · Lake Brienz (Brienzersee) · Lake Constance (Bodensee) · Lake Geneva (Lac Léman, Lac de Genève) · Lake Hallwil (Hallwilersee) · Lake Lucerne (Vierwaldstättersee) · Lake Lugano (Lago di Lugano, Ceresio) · Lake Maggiore (Lago Maggiore) · Lake Murten (Lac de Morat, Murtensee) · Lake Neuchâtel (Lac de Neuchâtel, Neuenburgersee) · Lake Sempach (Sempachersee) · Lake Thun (Thunersee) · Lake Walen (Walensee, Lake Walenstadt) · Lake Zug (Zugersee) · Lake Zurich (Zürichsee) · Sihlsee

Lake Biel (Lac de Bienne, Bielersee) · Lake Brienz (Brienzersee) · Lake Constance (Bodensee) · Lake Geneva (Lac Léman, Lac de Genève) · Lake Hallwil (Hallwilersee) · Lake Lucerne (Vierwaldstättersee) · Lake Lugano (Lago di Lugano, Ceresio) · Lake Maggiore (Lago Maggiore) · Lake Murten (Lac de Morat, Murtensee) · Lake Neuchâtel (Lac de Neuchâtel, Neuenburgersee) · Lake Sempach (Sempachersee) · Lake Thun (Thunersee) · Lake Walen (Walensee, Lake Walenstadt) · Lake Zug (Zugersee) · Lake Zurich (Zürichsee) · Sihlsee

Lake Biel (Lac de Bienne, Bielersee) · Lake Brienz (Brienzersee) · Lake Constance (Bodensee) · Lake Geneva (Lac Léman, Lac de Genève) · Lake Hallwil (Hallwilersee) · Lake Lucerne (Vierwaldstättersee) · Lake Lugano (Lago di Lugano, Ceresio) · Lake Maggiore (Lago Maggiore) · Lake Murten (Lac de Morat, Murtensee) · Lake Neuchâtel (Lac de Neuchâtel, Neuenburgersee) · Lake Sempach (Sempachersee) · Lake Thun (Thunersee) · Lake Walen (Walensee, Lake Walenstadt) · Lake Zug (Zugersee) · Lake Zurich (Zürichsee) · Sihlsee