Small Prespa Lake
Encyclopedia
Small Prespa Lake is a lake
shared between Greece
(138 km² drainage area; 43.5 km² surface area) and Albania
(51 km² drainage area; 3.9 km² surface area). It is the smaller of the two Prespa Lakes.
in the world. The flora in the region is composed of more than 1,500 plant species of which 146 endemic species in the Lake Ohrid and 39 endemic species from the Prespa Lakes.
Small Prespa Lake contains the island of Agios Achilleios; the island was an early capital of Bulgarian Tsar Samuel in the 10th century. It became a tourist and fishing centre in the 1970s. Located on the island of Agios Achilleios is the Basilica of St Achilleios. It is an example of the survival of Early Christian architectural style in the Byzantine period.
The villages surrounding the lake are Agios Germanos
, Laimos, Milionas, Platy, Kallithea, Lefkonas, Prespes
, Karyes, Mikrolimni, Oxia, Pyli
and Vrontero.
During 1970 significant amounts of water from the Devoll river
was diverted into the lake with the intention to use it latter during the summer time for the irrigation purposes. Due to the high suspended solids in the river water significant siltation did occur on the Albanian side. The practice has recently stopped. The Albanian part of this lake has a surface of 420 hectares. In 1999 the Society for the Protection of Prespa received the Ramsar Wetland Conservation Award
for its conservation efforts regarding the Lake Prespa Ramsar
site.
Lake
A lake is a body of relatively still fresh or salt water of considerable size, localized in a basin, that is surrounded by land. Lakes are inland and not part of the ocean and therefore are distinct from lagoons, and are larger and deeper than ponds. Lakes can be contrasted with rivers or streams,...
shared between Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
(138 km² drainage area; 43.5 km² surface area) and Albania
Albania
Albania , officially known as the Republic of Albania , is a country in Southeastern Europe, in the Balkans region. It is bordered by Montenegro to the northwest, Kosovo to the northeast, the Republic of Macedonia to the east and Greece to the south and southeast. It has a coast on the Adriatic Sea...
(51 km² drainage area; 3.9 km² surface area). It is the smaller of the two Prespa Lakes.
Details
Small Prespa Lake in particular has been recognized as an important wetland ecosystems favoring breeding and feeding of rare water bird species. It is best known for hosting the largest breeding colony of the Dalmatian pelicanDalmatian Pelican
The Dalmatian Pelican is a member of the pelican family. It breeds from southeastern Europe to India and China in swamps and shallow lakes. The nest is a crude heap of vegetation....
in the world. The flora in the region is composed of more than 1,500 plant species of which 146 endemic species in the Lake Ohrid and 39 endemic species from the Prespa Lakes.
Small Prespa Lake contains the island of Agios Achilleios; the island was an early capital of Bulgarian Tsar Samuel in the 10th century. It became a tourist and fishing centre in the 1970s. Located on the island of Agios Achilleios is the Basilica of St Achilleios. It is an example of the survival of Early Christian architectural style in the Byzantine period.
The villages surrounding the lake are Agios Germanos
Agios Germanos
Agios Germanos, is a village in the Prespes Municipality in West Macedonia, Greece. Agios Germanos is located at an altitude of approximately 1,100 meters , on a hillside, part of the Varnoundas Mountains. It is from the Prespes lakes, which can be seen from a panorama location of the village...
, Laimos, Milionas, Platy, Kallithea, Lefkonas, Prespes
Prespes
Prespes is a municipality in the Florina peripheral unit, Greece. Population 1,851 . The seat of the municipality is in Laimos.-Municipality:...
, Karyes, Mikrolimni, Oxia, Pyli
Pyli
Pyli is a municipality in the Trikala regional unit, Greece. Situated 18 km west of Trikala, right at the bottom of two mountains Itamos, and Koziakas, which mark the beginning of the Pindos mountainline, Pyli marks the entrance to a great gorge and the natural path that leads to the city of...
and Vrontero.
During 1970 significant amounts of water from the Devoll river
Devoll River
The Devoll is a river in southern Albania, one of the source rivers of the Seman. Its source is in the southwestern corner of the Devoll District, close to the Greek frontier...
was diverted into the lake with the intention to use it latter during the summer time for the irrigation purposes. Due to the high suspended solids in the river water significant siltation did occur on the Albanian side. The practice has recently stopped. The Albanian part of this lake has a surface of 420 hectares. In 1999 the Society for the Protection of Prespa received the Ramsar Wetland Conservation Award
Ramsar Wetland Conservation Award
The Ramsar Wetland Conservation Award was established in 1996 by a resolution at the 6th meeting of the Ramsar Convention, an international environmental treaty organisation, with the intention of recognising and honouring the work of governments, organisations and individuals in promoting the...
for its conservation efforts regarding the Lake Prespa Ramsar
Ramsar Convention
The Ramsar Convention is an international treaty for the conservation and sustainable utilization of wetlands, i.e., to stem the progressive encroachment on and loss of wetlands now and in the future, recognizing the fundamental ecological functions of wetlands and their economic, cultural,...
site.