Athanasia Chrysafis Biska

Lake Trichonida in central western Greece is the largest lake of the country, featuring 97 square km and a well-known wetland of heightened ecological importance for the region, including the nearby smaller lake Lysimachia located further west.

The lake is included the European Union's Natura 2000 programme for the conservation of fauna and flora. It is located southwest of Nafpaktos, following the Evinos river valley.

Thermo is the main lake town, 3 km from the lake shore. Of 300 families who used to make their living from fishing, only 4 or 5 remain.

Trichonida hosts 25 species of fish, a unique variety of blood orange in Kato Myrtia, the once popular but now abandoned spa at Loutra, extended olive groves, 35 olive oil presses and gradually demised – albeit once famous - tobacco fields.

European Union¢s Natura 2000 programme: Greece