A natural treasure at the edge of town

On the western shoreline of the Thermaikos Gulf can be found one of the most important wetlands in Greece. It is the Axios - Loudias - Aliakmonas Estuaries National Park, consisting of the deltas of the Axios and Aliakmonas rivers, the estuaries of the Gallikos and Loudias rivers, the Kalohori lagoon, the Nea Agathoupoli marsh and the Alyki Kitrous lagoon. It is a large complex wetland system with a total surface area of around 320 sq. kms. Thanks to the great diversity of ecological conditions –ranging from extensive ricefields, grasslands and riparian forests to salty marshes and swamps- the area makes an ideal habitat for many species of wild animals and plants.

The birds …

More than 270 bird species find shelter in the wetland, many of them rare and threatened. Avocets, Glossy ibises, Black - headed gulls, Dalmatian pelicans, are some of the beauties living here, whilst the riparian forest of Axios hosts one of the most important mixed heron colonies in Greece. The area lies under one of the basic migratory routes of Europe, so thousands of birds stop over for some days in order to rest and feed up, before continuing their journey.  

…the animals

Beside birds, the area of the Axios, Loudias and Aliakmonas estuaries is a valuable habitat for many other animal species, some of which are under threat of extinction, such as the European ground squirrel, the European otter and the Hermann’s tortoise. In the fields and in the islets of the Axios river lives a herd of wild horses, descendants of the animals once used by the farmers for agricultural work. In the Gallikos estuaries one can see an impressive stock of water buffalos, that enjoy spending most of their time in the water.

…and the plants

In total there are more than 500 species and subspecies of plants, some of which change colors during the year, producing a diverse scenery. Some species are rare, such as the Sea daffodil, while others are very common, such as the glasswort, which, in Autumn turns red and adorns the marshlands of the coastal zone to a colorful carpet.

NATURA 2000

Because of its great ecological importance, the area of Axios, Loudias and Aliakmonas estuaries has been designated as part of the Natura 2000 Network, as Specially Protected Area and Site of Conservation Interest. It is also protected by the Ramsar Convention