GENEVA Lake. This lake is in the shape of a crescent; along the concave side of which Mr Coxe travelled 54 miles. Switzerland forms the hollow, and Savoy the convex part; the greatest breadth being about 12 miles. The country on the side of Savoy is full of high and craggy mountains; but from Geneva to the environs of Lausanne it slopes to the margin of the lake, and is very rich and fertile. The banks rise considerably in the neighbourhood of Lausanne, and form a most beautiful terrace, with a rapid descent a few miles beyond the town. A plain begins in the neighbourhood of Vevay, which continues for a great way beyond the end of the lake, but contracting towards the water by the approach of the mountains. The lake itself appears at a distance of a beautiful blue colour, and the water is very clear and transparent. Near Geneva the coast of the lake abounds with pebbles; between that city and Lausanne it is sandy; from thence to Chillon it is bounded by hard calcareous rocks; and the extremity of the shore is a marsh formed by mud collected from the river Rhone. The greatest depth of this lake found by M. de Luc is 160 fathoms. Here the birds called tippet grebes make their appearance in December, and retire in February to other places where they breed. They make floating nests of reeds; but as the lake of Geneva affords none of these, they are obliged to migrate to other places where they grow. Their skins are much esteemed, and sell for 12s. or 14s. each. The lake of Geneva, like all others situated between mountains, is subject to sudden storms.
GENEVA Lake
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