Lucerne

Lake of, a famous lake of Switzerland. It is bounded by the four forest cantons of Uri, Schwyz, Unterwalden, and Lucerne. It lies at a level of 1,406 feet above the sea. It is nearly cruciform in shape, with the Bay of Lucerne at the top and the bay of Uri at the foot. The extreme length is about twenty-three miles. The extent of the arms is about twelve and one-half miles. The general width is from one to two miles. The greatest depth is 900 feet. Steamers from Lucerne make the grand tour of the lake daily. The road of Axenstrasse, cut in places through the solid rock along the eastern shore of the lake, is one of the most celebrated lake drives in Europe. The lake is so narrow and lies so deep among the mountains that the winds shift with dangerous frequency, making navigation unsafe except for experienced boatmen. The banks of the lake are intimately associated with the legend of William Tell. A storm of the sort mentioned, it may be remembered, was the means at one time of his escape from his captors. See Lucerne; Tell; Uri; St. Gothard; Rigi, etc.