Lake Stymphalia in the northeast Peloponnese is a well-known wetland of heightened ecological importance for the local region, one included in the European Union's Natura 2000 programme for the conservation of fauna and flora.
Stymphalia, located in Corinth prefecture, is the only mountainous lake in the Peloponnese, Greece eponymous southern-most province. Surrounded by Mt. Kyllini (Zireia), Mt. Oligyrtos, Mt. Mavrovounio and Mt. Garrias, the wetland is rich in bird, amphibian and plant life, and is a very important refuge and breeding ground for migratory birds, including 133 species of protected fowl and birds threatened with extinction. It is also home to the endemic fish taxom Pseudophoxinums stymphalicus. This species is quite interesting, because during dry periods it survives by sinking into the lake's mud and forming a slippery 'envelope' around its body.
During the Roman era, the lake supplied water to ancient Corinth some 65 kilometers away through an aqueduct constructed during the reign of Emperor Hadrian. Parts of the ancient aqueduct are still visible today.
On its north shore lie the remnants of ancient Stymphalos.
In Greek mythology, Lake Stymphalos is the site of Hercules' sixth labour, namely, to slay the man-eating Stymphalian birds (Stymphalides), pets of Ares, the god of war. The mythological creatures fled to the lake to escape a pack of wolves and bred quickly, taking over the countryside and destroying the area's crops and fruit trees.
The local government of the modern-day town of Stymphalia has launched a campaign to preserve the lake and the entire area's wetlands environment.
Caption: ANA-MPA file photo of an owl nesting in Stymphalia /VASSILIS PSOMAS
18.08.2009
