Greece · Ionian Islands

Antinioti Lagoon

Directions

Λιμνοθάλασσα Αντινιώτη

The Antinioti lagoon is a small brackish lake on the north-east coast of Corfu, between the beaches of Agios Spyridon and Almyros, within a Natura 2000 area. Sand dunes separate it from the sea, two mouths link it with the water beyond, and fresh springs feed it from the south-east. Reed and bamboo thickets surround it, with orchards and olive groves inland.

History

It was long a malarial swamp, which kept people away for centuries, and the land around it remains little developed. Gerald Durrell described it in My Family and Other Animals, from his summers here in the 1930s, as the Lake of Lilies. Twelve villages of north-east Corfu jointly own the lake, which is leased for traditional fish farming of grey mullet, sea bass and eel.

Nature

More than 90 kinds of resident and migratory birds have been recorded, including herons and cormorants, with otters and two kinds of terrapin in the marshes. Sixteen orchid species grow here, and sand lilies and agile frogs live on the dunes.

Visit

Swimming

No reliable information

Tips

The lagoon is an easy trip from Acharavi and Agios Spyridon, and a path through the forest leads from it towards Almyros. It can be reached on foot, by bicycle or by car, with parking and a café by the beach. There is no hide, and a telescope helps.

Spring, summer and autumn are all good for birds. Warblers like the scrub and heath, and red-rumped swallows, turtle doves and Alpine swifts are also about.