LAKE OF

See also:

• LAKE OF ISEO (the Laois Sebinus of the Romans)

ISEO (the Laois Sebinus of the

See also:

• ROMANS
• ROMANS, EPISTLE TO THE

Romans)  , a lake in Lombardy, N . Italy, situated at the southern foot of the Alps, and between the provinces of Bergamo and Brescia . It is formed by the Oglio river, which enters the northern extremity of the lake of Lovere, and issues from the southern end at Sarnico, on its way to join the Po . The area of the lake is about 24 sq. m., it is 171 m. in length, and 3 M. wide in the broadest portion, while the greatest depth is said to be about 984 ft. and the height of its surface above sea-level 607 ft . It contains one large island, that of Siviano, which culminates in the Monte Isola (1965 ft.) that is crowned by a chapel, while to the south is the islet of San Paolo, occupied by the buildings of a small Franciscan convent now abandoned, and to the north the equally tiny island of Loreto, with a ruined chapel containing frescoes . At the southern end of the lake are the small towns of Iseo (15 M. by rail N.W. of Brescia) and of Sarnico . From Paratico, opposite Sarnico, on the other or left bank of the Oglio, a railway runs in 61 m. to Palazzolo, on the main Brescia-Bergamo line . Towards the head of the lake, the deep wide valley of the Oglio is seen, dominated by the glittering snows of the Adamello (11,661 ft.), a glorious prospect . Along the east shore (the west shore is far more rugged) a fine carriage road runs from Iseo to the consider-able town of Pisogne (131 m.), situated at the northern end of the lake, and nearly opposite that of Lovere, on the right bank of the Oglio . The portion. of this road some way S. of Pisogne is cleverly engineered, and is carried through several tunnels . The lake's charms were celebrated by Lady Mary Wortley-Montagu, who spent ten summers (1747—1757) in a villa at Lovere, then much frequented by reason of an iron spring . The lake has several sardine and eel fisheries .

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