Lake Comabbio

Formed in the last glacial age, it was originally joined to Lake Varese. The natural slow withdrawal of the waters caused the gradual formation of the Palude Brabbia and its present shaping. Today the Lake Comabbio has a surface of 3.4 kmq and a maximum depth of 7.7 mt.

Since the reduced water mass, the lake freezes in winter and becomes an attractive ice field for skating.

On its east shore have been recovered three pile-dwelling settlements of Bronze Age. Some Roman finds have also been discovered in Mercallo and Comabbio as well as a fortified tower in Corgeno. An ancient route to the Alps, the strada merchantesca, passed by the western side of the lake.

In 1652 the bishop Biglia acquired all the lakes in the Varese district. The Lake Comabbio was sold to the Litta Visconti Arese in 1779 and finally to the Borghi, that in 1819 established a weawing factory in Varano.

The southern side of the lake is the less built-up and almost undisturbed. There are a large phragmites reed bed and a strip of meadow with hygrophilic trees. Here live the kingfisher, the Savi's warbler and the water rail.

On the surroundings, there are the towns of Comabbio, Ternate, Varano Borghi, Mercallo and Corgeno.