Cannobino

Lake Maggiore (UK: , US: ; Italian: Lago Maggiore Italian pronunciation: [ˈlaːɡo madˈdʒoːre]; Western Lombard: Lagh Maggior; Piedmontese: Lagh Magior; literally 'greater lake') or Verbano (pronounced [verˈbaːno]; Latin: Lacus Verbanus) is a large lake located on the south side of the Alps. It is the second largest lake in Italy and the largest in southern Switzerland. The lake and its shoreline are divided between the Italian regions of Piedmont and Lombardy and the Swiss canton of Ticino. Located halfway between Lake Orta and Lake Lugano, Lake Maggiore extends for about 64 kilometres (40 miles) between Locarno and Arona. The climate is mild in both summer and winter, producing Mediterranean vegetation, with many gardens growing rare and exotic plants. Well-known gardens include those of the Borromean and Brissago Islands, that of the Villa Taranto in Verbania, and the Alpinia Botanical Garden above Stresa. Lake Maggiore is drained by the river Ticino, a main tributary of the Po. Its basin also collects the waters of several large lakes, notably Lake Lugano (through the Tresa), Lake Orta (through the Toce) and Lake Varese (through the Bardello).

The Roncovalgrande Hydroelectric Plant, also known as the Delio Hydroelectric Plant, is located 3 kilometres (1.9 mi) north of Maccagno in the Province of Varese, Lombardy, Italy. Using the pumped-storage hydroelectric method, the power plant has an installed capacity of 1,016 megawatts (1,362,000 hp). The power plant was complete in 1971 and the last generator operational in 1973. During construction, the upper reservoir, Lago Delio, was expanded in capacity with two gravity dams; a northern and southern, 28.5 metres (94 ft) and 36 metres (118 ft) in height, respectively. The lower reservoir, Lago Maggiore, already existed. The power plant itself is located underground in between Delio and Maggiore. To produce electricity, water is released from the upper reservoir to the power plant via two 1,100 metres (3,600 ft) long penstocks. At the power plant, eight four-stage Pelton turbine-generators generate electricity. Power generation occurs during periods of high energy demand and when energy demand is low, pumping usually occurs. The pumps are on the same shaft as the Pelton turbines and send water from the lower to the upper reservoir to serve as stored energy. Later on, this water will be sent back down to the power station and the process will repeat. The difference in elevation between the upper and lower reservoirs affords a hydraulic head of 736.25 m (2,416 ft) and Lago Delio has a usable storage capacity of 10,000,000 cubic metres (8,100 acre⋅ft).

Tronzano Lago Maggiore is a comune (municipality) in the Province of Varese in the Italian region Lombardy, located about 80 km northwest of Milan and about 30 km north of Varese, on the border with Switzerland. Tronzano Lago Maggiore borders the following municipalities: Brissago (Switzerland), Cannobio, Maccagno con Pino e Veddasca.

Maccagno con Pino e Veddasca (Ticinese: Macagn cont Pin e Vedasca) is a comune in the province of Varese, in Lombardy, Italy, that was formed on 25 May 2014 from fusion of the communes of Maccagno, Pino sulla Sponda del Lago Maggiore and Veddasca. A referendum to create this comune was held on 1 December 2013. The referendum was passed with 77% yes and 33% no votes. Maccagno con Pino e Veddasca borders the following municipalities: Brissago (Switzerland), Cannobio (VB), Curiglia con Monteviasco, Dumenza, Gambarogno (Switzerland), Luino, Ronco sopra Ascona (Switzerland), Tronzano Lago Maggiore. Its neighborhood of Maccagno Imperiale is one of I Borghi più belli d'Italia ("The most beautiful villages of Italy").

Maccagno was a comune (municipality) of 2,000 inhabitants located in the province of Varese in the Italian region Lombardy, located in the Val Veddasca about 70 km northwest of Milan and about 25 km northwest of Varese. On 1 January 2014 the municipalities of Maccagno, Pino sulla Sponda del Lago Maggiore and Veddasca merged into the municipality of Maccagno con Pino e Veddasca.

Maccagno railway station (Italian: Stazione di Maccagno) is a railway station in the comune of Maccagno con Pino e Veddasca, in the Italian region of Lombardy. It is an intermediate stop on the standard gauge Cadenazzo–Luino line of Rete Ferroviaria Italiana.

The Giona is a ‘torrent’, or intermittent stream, which rises on the slopes of Monte Tamaro, in the Swiss canton of Ticino. After about 2 kilometres (1.2 mi), it enters the Italian province of Varese, forming the Val Veddasca before entering Lake Maggiore at Maccagno. Its course passes through the communes of Indemini in Switzerland and Veddasca, Curiglia con Monteviasco, Dumenza and Maccagno in Italy. The fish found in the river are predominantly Salmonidae, Cyprinidae and Cottidae, in particular brown trout, grayling, chub, vairone and European bullhead.The river is put to use as a source of hydropower.

The Castelli di Cannero are three rocky islets of Lake Maggiore in northern Italy. They are located off the shoreline of Cannero Riviera while administratively forming part of the Comune of Cannobio. They are known as castelli, or castles, in recognition of the ruined ancient fortifications which are found on two of them. They are all that remains of the Rocca Vitaliana fortress built between 1519 and 1521 by Ludovico Borromeo, who gave it this name in honour of an illustrious ancestor. The fortress was built over the ruins of an earlier castle, the Castello della Malpaga, which had been used since the 15th century as a refuge by the powerful, cruel Mazzarditi family. The five Mazzarditi brothers took control of the burgh of Cannobio between 1403 and 1404, terrorizing the inhabitants of the district with their acts of violence and piracy. This went on until the Viscontis laid siege to the fortress, starving the bandits into surrender. The old castle was razed to the ground, so that no trace of it remains. The Rocca Vitaliana was then built to defend the upper part of Lake Maggiore from incursions by the Swiss after the Duchy of Milan lost control of the Canton of Ticino. The main part of the castle, on the eastern islet, still has its massive walls built right on the water, following the irregular contours of the rock, and some towers of different shapes which still have part of their battlements. All that remains of the castle on the western islet is a ruined tower and some crumbling parts of the wall. The ruins cannot be visited as they are unsafe, but the view of them from the shore or from a boat continues to be compelling. The islands’ rocky shores are a magnet for adventurous bathers.

Brissago (German pronunciation: [bʁɪˈsaːɡo] ), (Italian pronunciation: [brisˈsaːɡo]) is a municipality in the district of Locarno in the canton of Ticino in Switzerland, bordering Italy. Brissago lies on the western shore of Lake Maggiore and includes the Brissago Islands.

Pino-Tronzano railway station (Italian: Stazione di Pino-Tronzano) is a railway station in the comune of Maccagno con Pino e Veddasca, in the Italian region of Lombardy. It is an intermediate stop on the standard gauge Cadenazzo–Luino line of Rete Ferroviaria Italiana and is final station south of the border between Switzerland and Italy.

Pino sulla Sponda del Lago Maggiore is a former municipality of Italy, now frazione of the municipality of Maccagno con Pino e Veddasca in the Province of Varese. It held the status of comune until 2014 when it was merged with Maccagno and Veddasca to form the new municipality. It lies about located about 110 km northwest of Milan and about 70 km northwest of Varese, on the border with Switzerland. Until its suppression, Pino sulla Sponda del Lago Maggiore held along with San Valentino in Abruzzo Citeriore, the record of Italian comune with the longest name (30 letters).