Wetlands: poles of attraction for alternative tourism
In recent years, scientists of the environmental organization WWF HELLAS (Worldwide Fund for Nature) were surprised registering in Lemnos not only the largest in extent wetlands of Mediterranean, but also the best-preserved.
Thirteen registered wetlands cover 2,62% of its land and classify Lemnos among the most important and greatest wetlands in Mediterranean level. Their existence has great importance for the preservation and variety of life in Aegean.
The most important wetlands of the island
It is the cluster of lakes of Alyki, Chortarolimni and Asprolimni, which covers an area of 14,000,000m2 approximately and is incorporated in the network NATURA 2000. The area of these three lakes constitutes an ideal environment for a great number of plants and animal, many times indigenous and rare. Nowadays, it seems to be hard to find such a good combination of salt meadows and sand dunes, without the devastation caused by human activity. Too many migratory birds come in the area for wintering, while there have been recorded till 4,000.
The historic bay of Moudros also constitutes an important wetland. Its size and position create a perfect environment for the preservation of rich fish and shell fauna. The wetland in Diapori, the Dependency in Fakos, Richoures in Palio Pedino, estuaries in Plaka, Kotsinas, Tigani and Gomati, mouths of torrents Zematas and Chandrias, wetland in Asprokavos.
There are more, smaller, wetlands around the bay of Moudros, important for the avifauna of the island such as of the Airport, Palaio Pedino & Nea Koutali.
Beyond the wetlands of high importance, there are also habitats of smaller scale, but of equal beauty and great ecological interest, worthy of being visited.
Alyki
This lake lies in the area of the village Kontopouli, its expanse surpasses 6,300,000m2, is salty and communicates with sea through a small canal. In winter, it is filled with sea water, which is evaporated in summer, leaving behind a salt of excellent quality.
Chortarolimni
It is a brackish lake of 2,300,000m2, which belongs to the administrative district area of the village Kalliopi. It is completely dry in summer, but the rest of the seasons it looks like a blue painting in green background, with hundreds singings of Herons, Ruddy Shelducks, Black-winged Stilts and Pied Avocets, which give their own fight for survival.
Asprolimni
It lies between Alyki and Chortarolimni, is characterized by high salt content, has an expanse of 500,000m2 and is dry in summer.
Biologists support that stagnant plains and mainly the basins “tigania” and “thermastres” of salt-marshes, where sea water is “baked” and prepared for salt coagulation, constitute particular areas, while various animal and plant organisms are developed there.
So, the two lakes of the island are overrun by Wild geese, Garganeys, Whooper swans, Herons, Halcyons, Glossy Ibis, Pelicans, Gulls, Terns, Grebes, Moorhens and dense swarms of Pink Flamingos.
Phoenicopterus: the Pink Flamingo
It is an exotic pink coloring wading bird, which use its peculiar beak as a strainer and feeds its young ones with a liquid like milk. Listen to their flight and admire their great pink plumage, high legs, height, longneck and particular shape of their head. Those are considered to be the most beautiful and imposing “visitors” of Lemnos, in hospitable wetlands of which they’re looking for a shelter every year.
Ruddy Shelduck
It is a duck which resembles to a goose. It comes from Asia and constitutes a species threatened by extinction.
Lesser Kestrel
It is a kestrel that isn’t afraid of people and is in danger of paying this forfeit of its disappearance. It comes in Lemnos in spring and at the end of August flies southerly to Sahara for wintering.
Although the area has great ecological importance, it hasn’t managed yet to attract alternative tourism. Several biologists, ornithologists and amateur observers have shown great interest for study.