List of lakes of Switzerland explained

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 30ha, 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 1000km (1,000miles) of shores within the country.^[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 100km2 are Lake Maggiore and Lake Lucerne. In total 103 lakes exist that are more than 30ha 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,^[2] at almost all elevations below the permanent snow line.

Distribution

There are several thousand lakes in Switzerland, with estimations up to 7000,^[3] although those include very small water bodies, traditionally referred to as "lakes".^[4] 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.^[5] 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).

Distribution by canton of the lakes over 0.30 km², grouped by area, elevation and depth

Canton	By area				By elevation^[6]			By max. depth				Total	Lakes/ 100km2
	<11NaN1	1-	10-	+100km2	<8000NaN0	800-	+16000NaN0	<50m (160feet)	50m-99mm (160feet-325feetm)	100m-199mm (300feet-653feetm)	+200m (700feet)
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

Main list

Rank	Name	Type* ^[7]	Local names	Canton(s), neighboring countries	River basin	Area		Elevation		Max. depth
						km²^[8]	mi²	m	ft	m	ft
1		N	Lac Léman, Lac de Genève	Geneva, Vaud, Valais, France	Rhone	580.03km2	372disp=tableNaNdisp=table	310disp=tableNaNdisp=table
2		N	Bodensee	St. Gallen, Thurgau, Austria, Germany	Rhine	473km2	396disp=tableNaNdisp=table	252disp=tableNaNdisp=table
3		N	Lac de Neuchâtel, Neuenburgersee	Bern, Fribourg, Neuchâtel, Vaud	Rhine	215.2km2	429.4disp=tableNaNdisp=table	153disp=tableNaNdisp=table
4		N	Verbano, Lago Maggiore	Ticino, Italy	Po	210.12km2	193.5disp=tableNaNdisp=table	372disp=tableNaNdisp=table
5		N	Vierwaldstättersee	Lucerne, Nidwalden, Obwalden, Schwyz, Uri	Rhine	113.72km2	433.6disp=tableNaNdisp=table	214disp=tableNaNdisp=table
6		N	Zürichsee	St. Gallen, Schwyz, Zurich	Rhine	88.17km2	405.9disp=tableNaNdisp=table	136disp=tableNaNdisp=table
7		N	Untersee	Schaffhausen, Thurgau, Germany	Rhine	63km2	396disp=tableNaNdisp=table	37disp=tableNaNdisp=table
8		N	Ceresio, Lago di Lugano	Ticino, Italy	Po	48.67km2	270.5disp=tableNaNdisp=table	288disp=tableNaNdisp=table
9		N	Thunersee	Bern	Rhine	47.74km2	557.8disp=tableNaNdisp=table	215disp=tableNaNdisp=table
10		N	Lac de Bienne, Bielersee	Bern, Neuchâtel	Rhine	39.51km2	429.1disp=tableNaNdisp=table	74disp=tableNaNdisp=table
11		N	Zugersee	Lucerne, Schwyz, Zug	Rhine	38.41km2	413.6disp=tableNaNdisp=table	198disp=tableNaNdisp=table
12		N	Brienzersee	Bern	Rhine	29.81km2	563.7disp=tableNaNdisp=table	260disp=tableNaNdisp=table
13		N	Walensee	Glarus, St. Gallen	Rhine	24.16km2	419disp=tableNaNdisp=table	150disp=tableNaNdisp=table
14		N	Lac de Morat (Murtensee)	Fribourg, Vaud	Rhine	22.8km2	429.2disp=tableNaNdisp=table	46disp=tableNaNdisp=table
15		N	Sempachersee	Lucerne	Rhine	14.36km2	503.8disp=tableNaNdisp=table	87disp=tableNaNdisp=table
16		A	Sihlsee	Schwyz	Rhine	10.72km2	889disp=tableNaNdisp=table	23disp=tableNaNdisp=table
17		N	Hallwilersee	Aargau, Lucerne	Rhine	10.21km2	448.7disp=tableNaNdisp=table	47disp=tableNaNdisp=table
18		A	Lac de la Gruyère	Fribourg	Rhine	9.6km2	677disp=tableNaNdisp=table	75disp=tableNaNdisp=table
19		NR	Lac de Joux	Vaud	Rhine	8.77km2	1004disp=tableNaNdisp=table	34disp=tableNaNdisp=table
20		N	Greifensee	Zurich	Rhine	8.17disp=tableNaNdisp=table	435.1disp=tableNaNdisp=table	34disp=tableNaNdisp=table
21		N	Sarnersee	Obwalden	Rhine	7.38km2	468.4disp=tableNaNdisp=table	52disp=tableNaNdisp=table
22		N	Ägerisee	Zug	Rhine	7.25km2	723.9disp=tableNaNdisp=table	82disp=tableNaNdisp=table
23		N	Baldeggersee	Lucerne	Rhine	5.24km2	463disp=tableNaNdisp=table	66disp=tableNaNdisp=table
24		A	Lago di Livigno	Grisons, Italy	Danube	4.71km2	1805disp=tableNaNdisp=table	119disp=tableNaNdisp=table
25		A	Schiffenensee, Lac de Schiffenen	Fribourg	Rhine	4.25km2	532disp=tableNaNdisp=table	38disp=tableNaNdisp=table
26		A	Wägitalersee	Schwyz	Rhine	4.18km2	900disp=tableNaNdisp=table	65disp=tableNaNdisp=table
27		A	Lago di Lei	Grisons, Italy	Rhine	4.12km2	1931disp=tableNaNdisp=table	133disp=tableNaNdisp=table
28		N	Silsersee, Lej da Segl	Grisons	Danube	4.1km2	1797disp=tableNaNdisp=table	71disp=tableNaNdisp=table
29		A	Lac des Dix	Valais	Rhone	3.65km2	2365disp=tableNaNdisp=table	227disp=tableNaNdisp=table
30		A	Wohlensee	Bern	Rhine	3.65km2	480disp=tableNaNdisp=table	20disp=tableNaNdisp=table
31		A	Lac d'Emosson	Valais	Rhone	3.27disp=tableNaNdisp=table	1930disp=tableNaNdisp=table	161disp=tableNaNdisp=table
32		NR	Klöntalersee	Glarus	Rhine	3.18km2	847disp=tableNaNdisp=table	47disp=tableNaNdisp=table
33		N	Silvaplanersee, Lej da Silvaplauna	Grisons	Danube	3.18km2	1790disp=tableNaNdisp=table	77disp=tableNaNdisp=table
34		N	Pfäffikersee	Zurich	Rhine	3.06km2	536disp=tableNaNdisp=table	35disp=tableNaNdisp=table
35		N	Lauerzersee	Schwyz	Rhine	3km2	447disp=tableNaNdisp=table	14disp=tableNaNdisp=table
36		NR	Grimselsee	Bern	Rhine	2.63km2	1908disp=tableNaNdisp=table	100disp=tableNaNdisp=table
37		NR	Lungerersee, Lungernsee	Obwalden	Rhine	2.01km2	688disp=tableNaNdisp=table	68disp=tableNaNdisp=table
38		A	Lac de Mauvoisin	Valais	Rhone	2.08km2	1961disp=tableNaNdisp=table	180disp=tableNaNdisp=table
39		NR	Lago di Poschiavo	Grisons	Po	1.98km2	962disp=tableNaNdisp=table	85disp=tableNaNdisp=table
40		A	Lai da Sontga Maria	Grisons, Ticino	Rhine	1.77disp=tableNaNdisp=table	1908disp=tableNaNdisp=table	86disp=tableNaNdisp=table
41		A	Mattmarksee	Valais	Rhone	1.76km2	2197disp=tableNaNdisp=table	93disp=tableNaNdisp=table
42		A	Lago di Vogorno	Ticino	Po	1.68km2	470disp=tableNaNdisp=table	204disp=tableNaNdisp=table
43		A	Lac de Salanfe	Valais	Rhone	1.62km2	1925disp=tableNaNdisp=table	48disp=tableNaNdisp=table
44		A	Zervreilasee	Grisons	Rhine	1.61km2	1862disp=tableNaNdisp=table	140disp=tableNaNdisp=table
45		A	Lac de l'Hongrin	Vaud	Rhine	1.6km2	1255disp=tableNaNdisp=table	105disp=tableNaNdisp=table
46		NR	Lago Bianco	Grisons	Po	1.5km2	2234disp=tableNaNdisp=table	53disp=tableNaNdisp=table
47		NR	Lago Ritom	Ticino	Po	1.49km2	1850disp=tableNaNdisp=table	69disp=tableNaNdisp=table
48		A	Oberaarsee	Bern	Rhine	1.47disp=tableNaNdisp=table	2303disp=tableNaNdisp=table	90disp=tableNaNdisp=table
49		A	Lai da Marmorera	Grisons	Rhine	1.41km2	1680disp=tableNaNdisp=table	65disp=tableNaNdisp=table
50		A	Lac de Moiry	Valais	Rhone	1.4km2	2249disp=tableNaNdisp=table	120disp=tableNaNdisp=table
51		A	Limmernsee	Glarus	Rhine	1.36km2	1857disp=tableNaNdisp=table	122disp=tableNaNdisp=table
52		A	Göscheneralpsee	Uri	Rhine	1.32km2	1792disp=tableNaNdisp=table	106disp=tableNaNdisp=table
53		A	Lago di Luzzone	Ticino	Po	1.27disp=tableNaNdisp=table	1606disp=tableNaNdisp=table	181disp=tableNaNdisp=table
54		A	Lago da l'Albigna Lägh da l'Albigna	Grisons	Po	1.26km2	2163disp=tableNaNdisp=table	108disp=tableNaNdisp=table
55		N	Oeschinensee	Bern	Rhine	1.15km2	1578disp=tableNaNdisp=table	56disp=tableNaNdisp=table
56		A	Klingnauer Stausee	Aargau	Rhine	1.11km2	318disp=tableNaNdisp=table	8.5disp=tableNaNdisp=table
57		A	Lago del Sambuco	Ticino	Po	1.11km2	1461disp=tableNaNdisp=table	124disp=tableNaNdisp=table
58		A	Lac de Verbois	Geneva	Rhone	1.01km2	369disp=tableNaNdisp=table
59		A	Lai da Nalps	Grisons	Rhine	0.9km2	1908disp=tableNaNdisp=table	122disp=tableNaNdisp=table
60		A	Lac de Tseuzier	Valais	Rhone	0.83km2	1777disp=tableNaNdisp=table	140disp=tableNaNdisp=table
61		A	Sufnersee	Grisons	Rhine	0.82km2	1401disp=tableNaNdisp=table	51disp=tableNaNdisp=table
62		A	Lai da Curnera	Grisons	Rhine	0.79km2	1956disp=tableNaNdisp=table	136disp=tableNaNdisp=table
63		N	Lej da San Murezzan, St. Moritzersee	Grisons	Danube	0.75km2	1768disp=tableNaNdisp=table	42disp=tableNaNdisp=table
64		NR	Lago del Narèt	Ticino	Po	0.73km2	2310disp=tableNaNdisp=table	104disp=tableNaNdisp=table
65		A	Flachsee	Aargau	Rhine	0.71km2	380disp=tableNaNdisp=table	7disp=tableNaNdisp=table
66		N	Lac des Brenets	Neuchâtel, France	Rhone	0.7km2	750disp=tableNaNdisp=table	26disp=tableNaNdisp=table
67		N	Alte Aare	Bern	Rhine	0.7km2	428disp=tableNaNdisp=table
68		A	Gigerwaldsee	St. Gallen	Rhine	0.69km2	1335disp=tableNaNdisp=table	135disp=tableNaNdisp=table
69		A	Lac de Moron	Neuchâtel, France	Rhone	0.69km2	716disp=tableNaNdisp=table	59disp=tableNaNdisp=table
70		A	Lac de Montsalvens	Fribourg	Rhine	0.66km2	801disp=tableNaNdisp=table	50disp=tableNaNdisp=table
71		A	Räterichsbodensee	Bern	Rhine	0.66km2	1767disp=tableNaNdisp=table	77disp=tableNaNdisp=table
72		NR	Lac Brenet	Vaud	Rhine	0.65km2	1002disp=tableNaNdisp=table	18disp=tableNaNdisp=table
73		N	Daubensee	Valais	Rhine	0.64km2	2205disp=tableNaNdisp=table
74		A	Griessee	Valais	Rhone	0.64km2	2386disp=tableNaNdisp=table	66disp=tableNaNdisp=table
75		NR	Gelmersee	Bern	Rhine	0.62km2	1850disp=tableNaNdisp=table	42disp=tableNaNdisp=table
76		A	Lac des Toules	Valais	Rhone	0.6km2	1810disp=tableNaNdisp=table	75disp=tableNaNdisp=table
77		NR	Davosersee	Grisons	Rhine	0.57disp=tableNaNdisp=table	1560disp=tableNaNdisp=table	52disp=tableNaNdisp=table
78		A	Lac du Vieux Emosson	Valais	Rhone	0.55km2	2205disp=tableNaNdisp=table	42disp=tableNaNdisp=table
79		NR	Lago di Lucendro	Ticino	Rhine	0.54km2	2135disp=tableNaNdisp=table	96disp=tableNaNdisp=table
80		N	Mauensee	Lucerne	Rhine	0.54km2	503disp=tableNaNdisp=table	9disp=tableNaNdisp=table
81		NR	Melchsee	Obwalden	Rhine	0.51km2	1891disp=tableNaNdisp=table	18disp=tableNaNdisp=table
82		A	Niederriedsee	Bern	Rhine	0.49km2	461disp=tableNaNdisp=table	8disp=tableNaNdisp=table
83		N	Türlersee	Zurich	Rhine	0.49km2	643disp=tableNaNdisp=table	22disp=tableNaNdisp=table
84		A	Lac de Cleuson	Valais	Rhone	0.48km2	2186disp=tableNaNdisp=table	76disp=tableNaNdisp=table
85		NR	Lac de Bret	Vaud	Rhone	0.48km2	674disp=tableNaNdisp=table	20disp=tableNaNdisp=table
86		A	Lago dei Cavagnöö, Lago di Cavagnoli	Ticino	Po	0.48km2	2310disp=tableNaNdisp=table	100disp=tableNaNdisp=table
87		N	Rotsee	Lucerne	Rhine	0.47disp=tableNaNdisp=table	419disp=tableNaNdisp=table	16disp=tableNaNdisp=table
88		NR	Engstlensee	Bern	Rhine	0.46km2	1851disp=tableNaNdisp=table	49disp=tableNaNdisp=table
89		NR	Lac des Taillères	Neuchâtel	Rhine	0.46km2	1040disp=tableNaNdisp=table	7disp=tableNaNdisp=table
90		N	Schwarzsee	Fribourg	Rhine	0.45km2	1046disp=tableNaNdisp=table	10disp=tableNaNdisp=table
91		NR	Lago della Sella	Ticino	Po	0.45km2	2256disp=tableNaNdisp=table	30disp=tableNaNdisp=table
92		NR	Arnensee	Bern	Rhine	0.45km2	1542disp=tableNaNdisp=table	50disp=tableNaNdisp=table
93		N	Laj da Vadret	Grisons	Danube	0.43km2	2160disp=tableNaNdisp=table
94		NR	Muttsee	Glarus	Rhine	0.41km2	2446disp=tableNaNdisp=table	68disp=tableNaNdisp=table
95		A	Lac de Biaufond	Jura, Neuchâtel, France	Rhone	0.4km2	606disp=tableNaNdisp=table	10disp=tableNaNdisp=table
96		NR	Lago Tremorgio	Ticino	Po	0.4km2	1851disp=tableNaNdisp=table	57disp=tableNaNdisp=table
97		A	Lag da Pigniu, Panixersee	Grisons	Rhine	0.39km2	1450disp=tableNaNdisp=table	42disp=tableNaNdisp=table
98		N	Amsoldingersee	Bern	Rhine	0.38km2	641disp=tableNaNdisp=table	14disp=tableNaNdisp=table
99		A	Lago d'Isola	Grisons	Po	0.36km2	1604disp=tableNaNdisp=table	39disp=tableNaNdisp=table
100		A	Lai da Ova Spin	Grisons	Danube	0.35km2	1630disp=tableNaNdisp=table	64disp=tableNaNdisp=table
101		N	Hüttwilersee	Thurgau	Rhine	0.35km2	434disp=tableNaNdisp=table	15disp=tableNaNdisp=table
102		NR	Tannensee	Obwalden	Rhine	0.34km2	1976disp=tableNaNdisp=table	21disp=tableNaNdisp=table
103		N	Moossee	Bern	Rhine	0.3km2	521disp=tableNaNdisp=table	21disp=tableNaNdisp=table

* Types: N = natural; NR = natural but used as reservoirs; A = fully artificial

See also

• Hydrology of Switzerland
• List of rivers of Switzerland
• List of glaciers of Switzerland
• List of islands of Switzerland
• Fishing industry in Switzerland
  • Italian Lakes – group of lakes on the Italian border

External links

• • Lakes, MySwitzerland.com

Notes and References

1. Approximately (see coastline paradox) 1000km (1,000miles) counting only the 17 lakes over (length retrieved from the Google Earth geographical information program).
2. The remaining basin (the Adige) being marginal and comporting only small lakes (of which the largest is Lai da Rims).
3. Book: Block, Klaus-Dieter . 2014 . Ach du liebe Schweiz: Ein sonderbares Land – Berichte aus der Schweiz . Steffen Verlag . 978-3-942477-87-1.
4. For example, the Blausee ("blue lake"), the Märjelensee ("Märjelen lake"), and the Schwarzsee ("black lake") are smaller than one hectare in surface area.
5. The cantons of Appenzell Ausserrhoden, Appenzell Innerrhoden, Basel-Stadt, Basel-Landschaft, and Solothun do not appear in this list.
6. See List of mountain lakes of Switzerland for a more detailed distribution.
7. Web site: Speicherseen in der Schweiz . Bundesamt für Energie BFE (Swiss Federal Office of Energy SFOE) . de.
8. Web site: Maps of Switzerland – Swiss Confederation – map.geo.admin.ch: Primary surfaces VECTOR25 . Federal Office of Topography (Swisstopo).