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Lakes of Ticino 2026: 99, both big ones reach into Italy

Key takeaway
The canton of Ticino has 99 lakes of 0.5 ha or more and 135 officially named bodies of water. Largest lake entirely within the canton: Lago Ritóm (1.48 km²). The highest is the Laghetto dei Cadabi at 2642 m.
Map: the lakes of Ticino, coloured by elevation (darker = higher)The largest lake entirely in Ticino is neither Lago Maggiore nor Ceresio. Which one then? 
Lake Finder: search all 135 named waters in Ticino

Lago Maggiore and Ceresio define Ticino, and both extend partly into Italy. The largest lake lying entirely within the canton is Lago Ritóm, 1.48 km² at 1849 m.

· swisstopo, As of 2026-02
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99
lakes from 0.5 ha
135 named waters
974
water surfaces
landscape model
2642 m
highest lake
Laghetto dei Cadabi
23
lakes over 10 ha
rank 4 of 26 cantons for lakes over 10 ha
Contents

Number of lakes in Ticino: 99

99 lakes of half a hectare or more, and yet the national map shows 974 bodies of standing water in Ticino. The gap is not imprecision; it is a way of counting.

How we count: the ConvivaPlus lake method
  1. 1974 water surfaces appear in swisstopo's landscape model for the canton.
  2. 2141 of them are at least half a hectare (5,000 m²).
  3. 3135 carry an official name, however small.
  4. 499 are both, named and at least 0.5 ha. That is what we count as a lake.

Anyone reading a different figure has almost always drawn a different line: count every water surface and Ticino has 974; count only lakes over one square kilometre and you get 7. Even a plain name such as "Weiher" counts as official: what decides is the entry in the swissNAMES3D gazetteer. Namesakes more than 50 m apart count separately, which is why "Laghi della Cròsa" in Cevio appears twice in the list. Our count states where the line is, so it can be checked.

Lake Finder: find any lake in Ticino

ConvivaPlus Lake Finder
ConvivaPlus · Lake Finder

Every officially named lake in Switzerland with area, elevation and canton. Filter by elevation and canton, search in all national languages.

99 lakes of 0.5 ha or more

Source: swissTLM3D, swissNAMES3D, swissBOUNDARIES3D (© swisstopo, 2026 edition). Area = entire water surface, including the foreign part for border lakes. Elevation = water level in the landscape model. Analysis by ConvivaPlus.

verified · ConvivaPlus

Largest lake in Ticino: Lago Ritóm

The largest lake touching Ticino is the Lago Maggiore (215.1 km²), but only 19% of its surface lies in the canton. The largest lake belonging entirely to the canton is the Lago Ritóm: 1.48 km² at 1849 m.

LakeAreaElevationShare in canton
Lago Maggiore215.1 km²193 m19%
Ceresio49.2 km²270 m61%
Lai da Sontga Maria1.73 km²1906 m0.3%
Lago Ritóm1.48 km²1849 m100%
Lago di Vogorno1.45 km²455 m100%
Lago di Luzzone1.41 km²1606 m100%
Lago del Sambuco1.10 km²1458 m100%
Lago del Náret71 ha2308 m100%
Lago di Lucendro53 ha2131 m100%
Lago dei Cavagnöö46 ha2309 m100%

Highest lake in Ticino: Laghetto dei Cadabi

Between the highest and the lowest lake in Ticino lie 2449 metres of elevation; only Valais has a wider range. At the top is the Laghetto dei Cadabi in Blenio at 2642 m, at the bottom the Lago Maggiore at 193 m.

The canton's median lake sits at 2131 m. Elevation is the water level in the landscape model; for reservoirs it varies with how full they are. 17 of the 99 lakes in the canton have a dam or embankment (structures in swissTLM3D).

Shared lakes: which lakes Ticino shares

86% of the lake surface in Ticino lies in lakes it does not own alone. Ticino shares 3 of its 99 lakes, 1 with other cantons and 2 with other countries; the table shows how much of each lies in the canton.

LakeCantonsShare in canton
Lago MaggioreTI · abroad19%
CeresioTI · abroad61%
Lai da Sontga MariaGR · TI0.3%
More from the lake atlas
Graubünden lakes →
Lakes of Valais →
Lakes of Uri →

List of lakes in Ticino

An official name does not make a lake: 36 of the 135 named bodies of water in Ticino measure less than half a hectare. The list shows all of them by area, the 99 lakes first, the smaller ones marked.

  1. 1.Lago Maggiore · 9 municipalities215.1 km²193 m
  2. 2.Ceresio · 17 municipalities49.2 km²270 m
  3. 3.Lai da Sontga Maria · 3 municipalities1.73 km²1906 m
  4. 4.Lago Ritóm · Quinto1.48 km²1849 m
  5. 5.Lago di Vogorno · 4 municipalities1.45 km²455 m
  6. 6.Lago di Luzzone · Blenio1.41 km²1606 m
  7. 7.Lago del Sambuco · Lavizzara1.10 km²1458 m
  8. 8.Lago del Náret · Lavizzara71 ha2308 m
  9. 9.Lago di Lucendro · Airolo53 ha2131 m
  10. 10.Lago dei Cavagnöö · Cevio46 ha2309 m
  11. 11.Lago della Sella · Airolo44 ha2255 m
  12. 12.Lago Tremorgio · Quinto32 ha1820 m
  13. 13.Lago Cadagno · Quinto26 ha1921 m
  14. 14.Lago di Robièi · Cevio23 ha1937 m
  15. 15.Lago di Muzzano · 3 municipalities23 ha337 m
  16. 16.Bacino di Palagnedra · Centovalli22 ha482 m
  17. 17.Laghi della Cròsa · Cevio17 ha2153 m
  18. 18.Laghetto · Faido16 ha1764 m
  19. 19.Laghetto della Val Malvaglia · Serravalle15 ha985 m
  20. 20.Lago del Zött · Cevio14 ha1939 m
  21. 21.Lago Nero · Cevio13 ha2388 m
  22. 22.Lago di Morghirolo · Faido, Dalpe12 ha2263 m
  23. 23.Lago d'Alzasca · Maggia11 ha1855 m
  24. 24.Lago di Tom · Quinto9.5 ha2020 m
  25. 25.Lèi Grande di Chièra · Faido9.3 ha2360 m
  26. 26.Laghi della Cròsa · Cevio8.9 ha2116 m
  27. 27.Lago Retico · Blenio8.7 ha2373 m
  28. 28.Lago Superiore · Lavizzara8.4 ha2128 m
  29. 29.Lago Sfundau · Cevio8.3 ha2366 m
  30. 30.Lago dello Stabbio · Quinto8.2 ha2351 m
  31. 31.Laghetti d'Antabia · Cevio7.8 ha2188 m
  32. 32.Lago Scuro · Quinto7.3 ha2450 m
  33. 33.Lago d'Origlio · Origlio7.2 ha418 m
  34. 34.Lago Barone · Verzasca6.9 ha2390 m
  35. 35.Laghetto del Demanio · Bellinzona, Sant'Antonino6.5 ha204 m
  36. 36.Lago di Dentro · Quinto6.4 ha2297 m
  37. 37.Lago di Tomé · Lavizzara5.8 ha1692 m
  38. 38.Lago di Mognòla · Lavizzara5.7 ha2004 m
  39. 39.Lago di Sassolo · Lavizzara5.6 ha2074 m
  40. 40.Laghi d'Orsirora · Airolo4.4 ha2442 m
  41. 41.Lago d'Orsino · Airolo4.2 ha2284 m
  42. 42.Lago della Piazza · Airolo4.0 ha2090 m
  43. 43.Laghetto d'Orbello · Arbedo-Castione3.8 ha726 m
  44. 44.Lago Bianco · Cevio3.8 ha2077 m
  45. 45.Lago di Sascòla · Cevio3.4 ha1739 m
  46. 46.Lago di Sfii · Campo (Vallemaggia)3.3 ha1909 m
  47. 47.Lago Scuro · Lavizzara3.2 ha2259 m
  48. 48.Lago di Leìt · Quinto3.2 ha2260 m
  49. 49.Lago di Prato · Quinto2.9 ha2056 m
  50. 50.Laghi di Formazzöö · Cevio2.9 ha2251 m
  51. 51.Lago d'Orsalìa · Cevio2.7 ha2146 m
  52. 52.Lago di Canèe · Bellinzona, Riviera2.6 ha2198 m
  53. 53.Lago dei Matörgn · Cevio2.5 ha2450 m
  54. 54.Laghi della Valletta · Airolo2.5 ha2431 m
  55. 55.Lago del Corbo · Lavizzara2.4 ha2349 m
  56. 56.Lago di Carassina · Blenio2.4 ha1705 m
  57. 57.Laghetto dell'Alpe · Airolo2.3 ha2008 m
  58. 58.Lago di Ravina · Airolo2.2 ha1889 m
  59. 59.Lago della Froda · Lavizzara2.2 ha2363 m
  60. 60.Lago d'Efra · Verzasca2.2 ha1835 m
  61. 61.Lago di Rierna · Personico2.1 ha595 m
  62. 62.Lago dei Morti · Airolo2.0 ha2044 m
  63. 63.Lago dell'Isra · Quinto2.0 ha2321 m
  64. 64.Laghi di Formazzöö · Cevio1.8 ha2146 m
  65. 65.Lago di Porchiér · Verzasca1.7 ha2191 m
  66. 66.Lago · Biasca1.6 ha2089 m
  67. 67.Lèi Piccolo di Chièra · Faido1.6 ha2346 m
  68. 68.Laghi d'Orsirora · Airolo1.6 ha2324 m
  69. 69.Lago della Vasasca · Maggia1.5 ha720 m
  70. 70.Lago di Val Sabbia · Lavizzara1.5 ha2395 m
  71. 71.Lago dei Pozzöi · Campo (Vallemaggia)1.4 ha1954 m
  72. 72.Lago di Pro da Lèi · Faido1.4 ha2255 m
  73. 73.Lago della Zotta · Lavizzara1.3 ha2230 m
  74. 74.Lago Stabbiello · Airolo1.2 ha2152 m
  75. 75.Lèi Pécian · Quinto1.2 ha2322 m
  76. 76.Laiòzz · Lavizzara1.2 ha2366 m
  77. 77.Lago del Pèzz · Campo (Vallemaggia)1.2 ha1978 m
  78. 78.Laghetto Gardiscio · Faido1.1 ha2581 m
  79. 79.Lago di San Carlo · Airolo1.1 ha2105 m
  80. 80.Lago del Starlarèsc da Sgióf · Verzasca1.0 ha1875 m
  81. 81.Laghi di Mottella · Faido0.97 ha2251 m
  82. 82.Bola Rossa · Faido0.94 ha2396 m
  83. 83.Lago di Froda · Airolo0.92 ha2438 m
  84. 84.Laghetto di Pianca · Maggia0.92 ha1915 m
  85. 85.Lago del Forna · Lavizzara0.91 ha2288 m
  86. 86.Laghetti d'Antabia · Cevio0.90 ha2126 m
  87. 87.Lèi di Campanítt · Quinto0.85 ha2377 m
  88. 88.Laghetti Audan · Quinto0.75 ha970 m
  89. 89.Laghi della Valletta · Airolo0.74 ha2468 m
  90. 90.Al Laghétt di Salèi · Onsernone0.64 ha1923 m
  91. 91.Lago di Dentro · Quinto0.63 ha2504 m
  92. 92.Lago della Cavegna · Onsernone0.59 ha1957 m
  93. 93.Lago Gelato · Campo (Vallemaggia)0.59 ha2161 m
  94. 94.Laghetto di Astano · Lema0.59 ha600 m
  95. 95.Laghetti di Cava · Biasca0.57 ha2052 m
  96. 96.Lago delle Pigne · Bedretto0.54 ha2277 m
  97. 97.Laghetto dei Cadabi · Blenio0.52 ha2642 m
  98. 98.Lago di Cane · Blenio0.51 ha2179 m
  99. 99.Laghetti degli Ovi · Airolo0.51 ha2364 m
  100. 100.Lago di Cara · Quinto0.49 ha2394 m
  101. 101.Schwarzsee · Bosco/Gurin0.47 ha2316 m
  102. 102.Laghetto di Cardéd · Serravalle0.47 ha2606 m
  103. 103.Lago del Starlarèsc da Scimarmòta · Verzasca0.46 ha1856 m
  104. 104.Üssera See · Bosco/Gurin0.44 ha2395 m
  105. 105.Lago di Sabbioni · Bedretto0.42 ha2306 m
  106. 106.Lago dei Banchi · Airolo0.41 ha2086 m
  107. 107.Lago del Piatto · Lavizzara0.41 ha2242 m
  108. 108.Laghetti di Taneda · Quinto0.41 ha2303 m
  109. 109.Lago della Valletta · Quinto0.36 ha1974 m
  110. 110.Lago di Fieud · Airolo0.31 ha2081 m
  111. 111.Lagozza della Segna · Quinto0.29 ha2190 m
  112. 112.Laghetto di Scai · Quinto0.28 ha2300 m
  113. 113.Lago di Chignolasc · Cevio0.27 ha1976 m
  114. 114.Lago di Schenadüi · Quinto0.24 ha2579 m
  115. 115.Laghetti d'Antabia · Cevio0.24 ha2149 m
  116. 116.Laghetto del Piattello · Lavizzara0.22 ha2105 m
  117. 117.Laghetto di Cassimoi · Blenio0.21 ha2983 m
  118. 118.Lago di Masnee · Maggia0.17 ha2009 m
  119. 119.Laghetto d'Orgnana · Verzasca0.15 ha1873 m
  120. 120.Laghi Scuri · Airolo0.11 ha2398 m
  121. 121.Laghetto di Piancabella · Acquarossa0.10 ha2293 m
  122. 122.Bolletina Lunga · Losone0.10 ha391 m
  123. 123.Acqua Fredda · Cevio0.10 ha2378 m
  124. 124.Laghetto · Blenio970 m²2233 m
  125. 125.Laghetto · Blenio890 m²2186 m
  126. 126.Laghetti della Miniera · Quinto780 m²2536 m
  127. 127.Laghetto di Port · Acquarossa620 m²2438 m
  128. 128.Laghetto · Monteceneri550 m²920 m
  129. 129.Lago Bacio · Bedretto480 m²2189 m
  130. 130.Bolletina Lunga · Losone460 m²388 m
  131. 131.Laghetto delle Corti · Serravalle400 m²2181 m
  132. 132.Laghetto di Giübin · Quinto400 m²2093 m
  133. 133.Laghetto · Verzasca290 m²1511 m
  134. 134.Laghi Scuri · Airolo210 m²2365 m
  135. 135.Laghetti della Costa · Arbedo-Castione, Bellinzona170 m²1623 m

Lakes by size: 60 of 99 under 5 ha

60 of the 99 lakes in Ticino are smaller than five hectares. 23 are larger than ten hectares, which puts Ticino at rank 4 of the 26 cantons.

Lakes in Ticino by area
under 5 ha60
5 to 10 ha16
over 10 ha23

Measured by area, the small lakes almost vanish: the 60 of the 99 lakes of half a hectare or more that stay under five hectares together cover about 1% of the lake surface in Ticino.

💡Did you know?

In Ticino, one water surface in 10 on the national map is a lake; across Switzerland, only one in 20.

Source: swisstopo · ConvivaPlus

Lakes by municipality: Airolo and Cevio tied

The municipalities with the most lakes, Airolo and Cevio, are not on the canton's largest lake (Lago Maggiore): 15 lakes each, all above 1700 m. Counted are lakes lying entirely within the canton and in no more than two municipalities; a large lake belongs to many. The Lake Finder can search by municipality.

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More lake pages

Graubünden lakes236 lakes, and where 600 comes fromshared: Lai da Sontga MariaLakes of Valais154 lakes, the highest at 3056 mneighbouring cantonLakes of Uri29 lakes, 17 above 2,000 mneighbouring cantonLakes of Bern86, more over 10 ha than any cantonLakes of St. Gallen57, its own biggest is 68 haLakes in the Canton of Zurich47 of 1457 water bodies
Written by
Marco Gisler
Marco Gisler

ConvivaPlus Editor · Data & Switzerland

Writes about Switzerland in figures – official data recalculated, counting method explained.

  • Population
  • 26 cantons
  • Waterways
  • Official data
Researched & sourced · for Switzerland
Profile & all articles →Our editorial teamUpdated
Sources & methodology3
Researched & source-checked · for Switzerland
As of: 25.10.2026
01
swisstopo: swissTLM3D (Ausgabe 2026) →water surfaces, area and elevation
02
03
swisstopo: swissBOUNDARIES3D (Ausgabe 2026) →cantonal boundaries for area shares

All information without guarantee. Found an error? → support@conviva-plus.ch

Source: swisstopo (swissTLM3D, swissNAMES3D, swissBOUNDARIES3D, 2026 edition), analysis by ConvivaPlus. Switzerland as a whole: 891 lakes out of 17'873 water surfaces; parts with the same name no more than 50 m apart count as one lake. Area = water surface at the shoreline of the landscape model; reference works using a different shoreline or water level sometimes give other values.

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