Lake Orestiada description and photos - Greece: Kastoria (Topic)

Lake Orestiada description and photos - Greece: Kastoria. Detailed information about the attraction. Description, photographs and a map showing the nearest significant objects. The name in English is Lake Orestiada.

Photo and description

Lake Orestiada, also known as Lake Kastor, is located in the northwestern part of Greece in Macedonia (Kastoria region). On a small peninsula jutting into the lake is the city of Kastoria. The lake probably got its name "Orestiada" from the mountain nymphs Orestiada, although there are other hypotheses.

The lake is located at an altitude of 630 meters above sea level. Its area is 28 sq. km, and the maximum depth is about 9-10 m. Lake Orestiada is of volcanic origin and its age is about 10 million years. It is believed that the modern lake is only part of a huge prehistoric reservoir, whose area was 164 square meters. km.

Here in 1992 was found the so-called "plate from Dispilio" - a wooden plaque with signs, radiocarbon analysis of which showed that its age is more than 7000 years. This suggests that the area near the lake has been inhabited since ancient times. On the banks of the Orestiada there is an important local landmark - the Byzantine Church of Mavriotis, which dates back to the 11th century and is an important monument of Greek Orthodoxy.

Lake Kastor is a very important ecosystem with a rare ecological environment, where a huge number of different living creatures live, many of which are endangered. Near the lake you can meet about 200 species of birds - these are swans, wild ducks, herons, gulls, storks, blackbirds, ibises, cormorants, starlings, robins, and even pink pelicans. The variety of fish found in the lake (crucian carp, carp, perch, roach, catfish, etc.) ) makes fishing very popular. Beavers and otters also live in the lake. Turtles, salamanders and snakes can be found. The mountains surrounding the lake are inhabited by wolves, foxes, bears, wild boars and other mammals. The flora of the lakeside territory is also very diverse. Such a variety of flora and fauna is somewhat surprising, since a fairly developed city is located nearby.

Lake Orestiada is one of the most picturesque Balkan lakes and is classified by the Greek Ministry of Culture and Tourism as a natural monument.

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Topic: Lake Orestiada description and photos - Greece: Kastoria.