“Lake Maggiore is the second largest after Lake Garda. It has a surface area of about 213 km², a maximum length of 54 km and, at its widest, is 12 km. The lake basin has tectonic-glacial origins and its volume is 37 km³. The lake Maggiore’s jagged banks are surrounded by the Prealps of Piedmont and Lombardy. The western bank is in Piedmont and the eastern in Lombardy, whereas the most northerly section extends thirteen km into Switzerland, where it constitutes the lowest point above sea-level in that entire country.
The lake Maggiore’s climate is mild in both summer and winter, producing Mediterranean vegetation, with beautiful gardens growing rare and exotic plants. The gardens of the Isola Madre, Isola Bella and the Isole di Brissago, those of the Villa Taranto in Verbania, and the Alpinia botanical garden above Stresa are very famous.”
By http://it.wikipedia.org

The Islands of the lake Maggiore:
* Borromean Islands

    * Bella island

    * Madre island

    * Pescatori island

    * S. Giovanni island

    * Malghera island
* Islands of Brissago

    * S. Pancrazio island

    * S. Apollinare island
* Castels of Cannero
* Partegora island