Greece · Eastern Macedonia and Thrace

Lake Vistonida

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Λίμνη Βιστωνίδα

Lake Vistonida is a lake in Western Thrace in Greece, fed by the Kompsatos river, with a unique ecosystem and a mid-Mediterranean climate. It is home to many kinds of fish, amphibians, reptiles, mammals, birds and plants. In antiquity it was called Bistonis, a great Thracian lake in the land of the Bistones, who gave it its name; its brackish water was rich in fish. In Byzantine times a share of its catch is said to have been granted by the emperor to the Vatopedi monastery on Mount Athos.

How it formed

Thick reed beds line the lake, and three channels link it with the sea, so that its southern part is salty. With the Porto Lagos lagoon and the neighbouring lagoons and Lake Ismaris it forms a single Ramsar wetland.

History

On two islets in the Porto Lagos lagoon stands a dependency of the Vatopedi monastery of Mount Athos, with the church of St Nicholas on one and Panagia Pantanassa, looking out to the Thracian Sea, on the other. A small community of monks lives there.

Nature

The wetlands matter for breeding, passing and wintering waterbirds, for reed-bed birds and for raptors. Dalmatian and white pelicans come in large numbers in winter, along with ruddy shelducks, egrets, the rare white-headed duck and, in the lagoon west of Porto Lagos, greater flamingos. Red-breasted geese winter here, and white-tailed and spotted eagles and lesser kestrels pass through. Grey herons and little egrets nest in the pine grove at Porto Lagos. Drainage in the east and pollution from farms, industry and households are the main pressures.

Gallery

3 photos

Photo: Ggia · CC BY-SA 3.0

Photo: Enric · CC BY-SA 4.0

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Visit

Swimming

No reliable information

Tips

The lake is about 25 km south-east of Xanthi and 23 km south-west of Komotini, and a car is easiest. Start at the information centre at the western entrance of Porto Lagos, which can advise on the best places for each season. About 260 bird species are recorded, and spring and autumn are the best times.

Near the fishing harbour of Porto Lagos is the pine grove with its nesting herons. A taverna east of the village is a pleasant place to watch birds over lunch, and small chapels stand on islets in the lagoons.