Greece · Western Greece

Klisova Lagoon

Directions

Λιμνοθάλασσα Κλείσοβας

Klisova is part of the Messolonghi lagoon complex, the largest in Greece. It is shallow, about a metre deep on average, and consists of West Klisova and the smaller East Klisova, both closed lagoons linked to the sea by channels and fed with fresh water from the drainage pumps of the plain.

How it formed

A road built in 1885 cut it off from the main lagoon. In the late 1960s dikes split it in two, and part of it became salt pans.

History

The islet of Klisova played its part in the siege of Messolonghi. On 25 March 1826 Ottoman forces tried to take it, and it was held by a small garrison of about 130 men, keeping open the supply route to the besieged town. West Klisova is still fished in the traditional way, with barrier traps.

Nature

The lagoon shelters many birds, among them herons, little egrets, mallards, avocets, flamingos, black-winged stilts and spoonbills. It is part of a Ramsar wetland and of the Natura 2000 network.

Visit

Swimming

No reliable information

Tips

From Messolonghi it is a flat walk or ride of about 5–6 km along the road to Tourlida, into the heart of the lagoon, with fishing huts on stilts, the pelades, along the way. Dirt roads lead off to the side, and flat-bottomed gaites cross the water. An observatory stands on the eastern shore, where springs feed fresh water into the lagoon.

A paddle near Klisova to the islet of Agios Sostis may reveal flamingos. See the Messolonghi Lagoon page for more on boats, the salt museum and the town.