Lake Lugano ( or , from ) is a
glacial lake which is situated on the border between southern
Switzerland and northern
Italy. The lake, named after the city of
Lugano, is situated between
Lake Como and
Lago Maggiore. It was cited for the first time by
Gregory of Tours in 590 with the name
Ceresio, a name which is said to have derived from the
Latin word
cerasus, meaning
cherry, and refers to the abundance of cherry trees which at one time adorned the shores of the lake. The lake appears in documents in 804 under the name
Laco Luanasco.