1911 Encyclopædia Britannica/Zug, Lake of

ZUG, LAKE OF, one of the minor Swiss lakes, on the outskirts of the Alps and N. of that of Lucerne. Probably at some former date it was connected by means of the Lake of Lowerz and the plain of Brunnen with the Lake of Lucerne. At present it is formed by the Aa, which descends from the Rigi and enters the southern extremity of the lake. The Lorze pours its waters into the lake at its northern extremity, but 1¼ m. further W. issues from the lake to pursue its course towards the Reuss. The Lake of Zug has an area of about 15 sq. m., is about 9 m. in length, 22 m. in breadth, and has a maximum depth of 650 ft., while its surface is 1368 ft. above sea-level. For the most part the lake is in the Canton of Zug, but the southern end is, to the extent of 3¾ sq. m., in that of Schwyz, while the Canton of Lucerne claims about ¾ sq. m., to the N. of Immensee. Toward the S.W. extremity of the lake the Rigi descends rather steeply to the water's edge, while part of its east shore forms a narrow level band at the foot of the Rossberg (5194 ft.) and the Zugerberg. At its northern end the shores are nearly level, while on the west shore the wooded promontory of Buonas (with its castles, old and new) projects picturesquely into the waters. The principal place on the lake is the town of Zug, whence a railway (formerly part of the St Gotthard main route) runs along its eastern shore past Walchwil to Arth at its south end, which is connected by a steam tramway with the Arth-Goldau station of the St Gotthard line. This line runs from Arth along the western shore to Immensee, where it bears S.W. to Lucerne, while from Immensee another railway leads (at first some way from the shore) to Cham, 3 m. W. of Zug. The first steamer was placed on the lake in 1852. Many fish (including pike and carp of considerable weights) are taken in the lake, which is especially famous by reason of a peculiar kind of trout (Salmo salvelinus, locally called Rötheli).  (W. A. B. C.)