Rivers Ticino and Maggia

River Ticino River Reuss originates on the south face of St. Gotthard massif in Southern Switzerland, runs through a fairly steep valley called Valle Leventina and feeds Lago Maggiore [Major Lake] between the cities of Bellinzona and Locarno. Bellinzona is the capital of canton [federal state] Ticino and controls the entrance to Valle Leventina and thereby access to two major alpine pass roads. The three castles of Bellinzona are a UNESCO world heritage site.

Locarno is situated at the northeastern shore of Lago Maggiore, a major tourist resort well known for Switzerland's most important film festival and for its mild climate. Right east of Locarno, River Verzasca, famous for its greenish water and colourful rocks flows into Lago Maggiore, between Locarno and Ascona in the west, River Maggia flows into the Lake.