Lake Karla
Encyclopedia
Lake Karla is a former lake that sits at 60 to 80 m (180 to 240 ft) above sea level making it the only one in the plain
of Thessaly
. The lake is located at the northern end of the prefecture
of Magnesia
in the Pineios basin, adjacent to Pelion
and Maurovouni mountains. On the eastern part of the lake the lies the town of Kanalia
.
, was an 180 km² lake that was completely drained in 1962 to gain land for agriculture. The lake was part of the ancient Greek mythology
(the god
Apollo
was married on its shores). Before its drainage, it was the site of a unique fishermen culture, with the fishermen spending some nine months of the year in reed huts that they built on the lake. The lake fisheries were an important tradition and to some extent a significant economic activity.
For these reasons, and because agriculture was never successful in the saline soils of the former lake bed, the local population supports an ambitious project to restore the lake. The restoration will reflood only 50 of the original 180 km² of the former lake. The project represents a 100 million ECU
investment that would be financed with the support of the European Commission
. Some technical aspects still require further elaboration in order to ensure that it is environmentally sound, but the project has so much popular and political support that most likely it will go ahead. If so, it would represent one of the most ambitious wetland restoration projects and a good case study for the Ramsar Convention.
mountain, two water reservoirs in former Lake Karla and the spring Kefalovryso
in Velestino. Mavrovouni
(390 km² (96,371 acre), max elevation 1054 m (3,458 ft)) extends between Ossa and Pilio mountains and is today restored totally in Magnesia Prefecture. It mainly consists of schist
and, in less extent, of limestone. The marine area covers 2% of the site, the terrestrial area covers 96% and the reservoirs cover 2%
Its northeast side ends in steep cliffs in the Aegean Sea
. At the higher zone, it is mainly covered by oak forests (especially Quercus conferta) and at lower parts by beech
and chestnut
forests. Maquis
covers the lower zone. At the eastern part of the mountain it is very dense and dominated by holm oak
(Quercus ilex). The rest of maquis is dominated by kermes oak and wild olive and has deteriorated as a result of intense grazing. This area is used for pasture by high numbers of farm animals. Mavrovouni
also includes ravines, rock formations, grasslands, phrygana and agricultural land. A significant number of streams runs the mountain, most of them drying in summer. At the banks of the streams there are plane trees, alders, poplars and willows.
The two water reservoirs, one near Stefanovikio
(4 km² (988.4 acre)) and the other near Kalamaki
(2 km² (494.2 acre)), were constructed in 1988 for irrigation purposes in the area of the former Lake Karla. Their water flows in from the river Pineios through the Asmaki stream. However, industrial and agricultural wastes flow into the reservoirs. They are possibly eutrophic and a rapid increase of reedbeds into them is observed.
Kefalovryso
spring has suffered the effects of human activities. Its area has been reduced, it has lost its natural vegetation and possibly its native fishes, as well. Now it is used as a pond for the production of commercial (trout etc.) and exotic fishes.
Plain
In geography, a plain is land with relatively low relief, that is flat or gently rolling. Prairies and steppes are types of plains, and the archetype for a plain is often thought of as a grassland, but plains in their natural state may also be covered in shrublands, woodland and forest, or...
of Thessaly
Thessaly
Thessaly is a traditional geographical region and an administrative region of Greece, comprising most of the ancient region of the same name. Before the Greek Dark Ages, Thessaly was known as Aeolia, and appears thus in Homer's Odyssey....
. The lake is located at the northern end of the prefecture
Prefecture
A prefecture is an administrative jurisdiction or subdivision in any of various countries and within some international church structures, and in antiquity a Roman district governed by an appointed prefect.-Antiquity:...
of Magnesia
Magnesia Prefecture
Magnesia Prefecture was one of the prefectures of Greece. Its capital was Volos. It was established in 1899 from the Larissa Prefecture. The prefecture was disbanded on 1 January 2011 by the Kallikratis programme, and split into the peripheral units of Magnesia and the Sporades.The toponym is...
in the Pineios basin, adjacent to Pelion
Pelion
Pelion or Pelium is a mountain at the southeastern part of Thessaly in central Greece, forming a hook-like peninsula between the Pagasetic Gulf and the Aegean Sea...
and Maurovouni mountains. On the eastern part of the lake the lies the town of Kanalia
Kanalia
Kanalia is a village in Thessaly, Greece, part of the municipality Rigas Feraios. It is located from Volos and at a height of above the sea level. It is one of the prettiest on the north-west side of Pelion. It is built on the foundation of the Acropolis Voivis in the plains of Metochi...
.
Name
Its first name was Voivis and was taken from the nearby ancient city of Voivis which today is located at KanaliaKanalia
Kanalia is a village in Thessaly, Greece, part of the municipality Rigas Feraios. It is located from Volos and at a height of above the sea level. It is one of the prettiest on the north-west side of Pelion. It is built on the foundation of the Acropolis Voivis in the plains of Metochi...
Restoration of the lake
Lake Karla, some 300 km (186.4 mi) north of AthensAthens
Athens , is the capital and largest city of Greece. Athens dominates the Attica region and is one of the world's oldest cities, as its recorded history spans around 3,400 years. Classical Athens was a powerful city-state...
, was an 180 km² lake that was completely drained in 1962 to gain land for agriculture. The lake was part of the ancient Greek mythology
Greek mythology
Greek mythology is the body of myths and legends belonging to the ancient Greeks, concerning their gods and heroes, the nature of the world, and the origins and significance of their own cult and ritual practices. They were a part of religion in ancient Greece...
(the god
God
God is the English name given to a singular being in theistic and deistic religions who is either the sole deity in monotheism, or a single deity in polytheism....
Apollo
Apollo
Apollo is one of the most important and complex of the Olympian deities in Greek and Roman mythology...
was married on its shores). Before its drainage, it was the site of a unique fishermen culture, with the fishermen spending some nine months of the year in reed huts that they built on the lake. The lake fisheries were an important tradition and to some extent a significant economic activity.
For these reasons, and because agriculture was never successful in the saline soils of the former lake bed, the local population supports an ambitious project to restore the lake. The restoration will reflood only 50 of the original 180 km² of the former lake. The project represents a 100 million ECU
ECU
ECU may refer to:Automotive terms* Electronic control unit, a generic term for any embedded system that controls one or more of the electrical systems or subsystems in a motor vehicle...
investment that would be financed with the support of the European Commission
European Commission
The European Commission is the executive body of the European Union. The body is responsible for proposing legislation, implementing decisions, upholding the Union's treaties and the general day-to-day running of the Union....
. Some technical aspects still require further elaboration in order to ensure that it is environmentally sound, but the project has so much popular and political support that most likely it will go ahead. If so, it would represent one of the most ambitious wetland restoration projects and a good case study for the Ramsar Convention.
Other notable facts
The site includes MavrovouniMavrovouni
Mavrovouni may refer to several places in Greece:*Mavrovouni, Ioannina, a village in the Ioannina Prefecture, part of the municipality Kalpaki*Mavrovouni, Laconia, a village in Laconia, part of the municipality Gytheio...
mountain, two water reservoirs in former Lake Karla and the spring Kefalovryso
Kefalovryso
Kefalovryso may refer to several places in Greece:*Kefalovryso, Argolis, a village in Argolis, part of the municipality Lyrkeia...
in Velestino. Mavrovouni
Mavrovouni
Mavrovouni may refer to several places in Greece:*Mavrovouni, Ioannina, a village in the Ioannina Prefecture, part of the municipality Kalpaki*Mavrovouni, Laconia, a village in Laconia, part of the municipality Gytheio...
(390 km² (96,371 acre), max elevation 1054 m (3,458 ft)) extends between Ossa and Pilio mountains and is today restored totally in Magnesia Prefecture. It mainly consists of schist
Schist
The schists constitute a group of medium-grade metamorphic rocks, chiefly notable for the preponderance of lamellar minerals such as micas, chlorite, talc, hornblende, graphite, and others. Quartz often occurs in drawn-out grains to such an extent that a particular form called quartz schist is...
and, in less extent, of limestone. The marine area covers 2% of the site, the terrestrial area covers 96% and the reservoirs cover 2%
Its northeast side ends in steep cliffs in the Aegean Sea
Aegean Sea
The Aegean Sea[p] is an elongated embayment of the Mediterranean Sea located between the southern Balkan and Anatolian peninsulas, i.e., between the mainlands of Greece and Turkey. In the north, it is connected to the Marmara Sea and Black Sea by the Dardanelles and Bosporus...
. At the higher zone, it is mainly covered by oak forests (especially Quercus conferta) and at lower parts by beech
Beech
Beech is a genus of ten species of deciduous trees in the family Fagaceae, native to temperate Europe, Asia and North America.-Habit:...
and chestnut
Chestnut
Chestnut , some species called chinkapin or chinquapin, is a genus of eight or nine species of deciduous trees and shrubs in the beech family Fagaceae, native to temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere. The name also refers to the edible nuts they produce.-Species:The chestnut belongs to the...
forests. Maquis
Maquis shrubland
thumb|220px|Low Maquis in Corsica.220px|thumb|High macchia in Sardinia.Maquis or macchia is a shrubland biome in the Mediterranean region, typically consisting of densely growing evergreen shrubs such as holm oak, tree heath, strawberry tree, sage, juniper, buckthorn, spurge olive and myrtle...
covers the lower zone. At the eastern part of the mountain it is very dense and dominated by holm oak
Oak
An oak is a tree or shrub in the genus Quercus , of which about 600 species exist. "Oak" may also appear in the names of species in related genera, notably Lithocarpus...
(Quercus ilex). The rest of maquis is dominated by kermes oak and wild olive and has deteriorated as a result of intense grazing. This area is used for pasture by high numbers of farm animals. Mavrovouni
Mavrovouni
Mavrovouni may refer to several places in Greece:*Mavrovouni, Ioannina, a village in the Ioannina Prefecture, part of the municipality Kalpaki*Mavrovouni, Laconia, a village in Laconia, part of the municipality Gytheio...
also includes ravines, rock formations, grasslands, phrygana and agricultural land. A significant number of streams runs the mountain, most of them drying in summer. At the banks of the streams there are plane trees, alders, poplars and willows.
The two water reservoirs, one near Stefanovikio
Stefanovikio
Stefanovikeio is a small town in Thessaly, Greece. It is part of the municipality Rigas Feraios, and the municipal unit Karla....
(4 km² (988.4 acre)) and the other near Kalamaki
Kalamaki
Kalamaki is an alternative name for souvlaki, with the name derived from "κάλαμος" meaning reed. It is also the name of several Greek towns:* Kalamaki, Crete, a small town in the south of Crete...
(2 km² (494.2 acre)), were constructed in 1988 for irrigation purposes in the area of the former Lake Karla. Their water flows in from the river Pineios through the Asmaki stream. However, industrial and agricultural wastes flow into the reservoirs. They are possibly eutrophic and a rapid increase of reedbeds into them is observed.
Kefalovryso
Kefalovryso
Kefalovryso may refer to several places in Greece:*Kefalovryso, Argolis, a village in Argolis, part of the municipality Lyrkeia...
spring has suffered the effects of human activities. Its area has been reduced, it has lost its natural vegetation and possibly its native fishes, as well. Now it is used as a pond for the production of commercial (trout etc.) and exotic fishes.