evidence: Switzerland is a water-rich country. Lakes and rivers cover around 4% of its surface area. It has roughly 61,000km of rivers and streams and around 1,500 lakes. Switzerland also has 6% of Europe's freshwater reserves, and the Rhone, Rhine and Inn all have their headwaters here. In summer, run-off from the Alps flows into the Rhine, Rhone, Po and Danube river plains. Switzerland has countless rivers and around 1,500 lakes, the largest of which are Lake Geneva and Lake Constance. The country is a huge reservoir, right in the heart of the continent. This is why it is also known as 'the water tower of Europe'. [...] The country's largest lakes – Lake Geneva, Lake Neuchâtel and Lake Bienne – are in the foothills of the Jura. Lake Geneva, which is shared by France and Switzerland, is the largest freshwater lake in central Europe. At 218km2, Lake Neuchâtel is the largest lake wholly on Swiss territory. Lake Constance and Lake Zurich are in the Central Plateau, while Lake Thun, Lake Brienz, Lake Zug and Lake Lucerne are in the Pre-Alps and the northern section of the Alps. Lake Lugano and Lake Maggiore are on the southern side of the Swiss Alps. There are also hundreds of small natural lakes and reservoirs, most of which are in the Alps.