The Peloponnese

Lake Stymphalis

This spring-fed lake in the northern Peloponnese has a limited area of open water on the southern and eastern edges, with a good area of reedbeds that constitute good bird habitat for different birds throughout the year. Few such lakes exist in southern Greece, and hence this one draws many migrating birds, including a couple kinds of herons, and some birds of prey, with some breeding grey herons, little bitterns, great-crested grebes, marsh harriers, ferruginous ducks and others. Trees in the hills around the lake include oak, Greek fir, with scrub and phyrgana, and other birds, including rock partridges. There are roads around this lake which, despite its rarity and consequent importance, has been given no conservation protection.