Λιμνι Στυμφαλια

Limni Stymphalia - Stymphalian Lake

Useful Information

Location:	27 km west of Nemea, northwest Argolis. 22.4667, 37.85)
Open:	no restrictions
Fee:	free
Classification:	Karst lake, Ponor.
Light:	n/a
Dimension:	Ar=1309 ha, A=600 m asl.
Guided tours:
Photography:
Accessibility:
Bibliography:
Address:
As far as we know this information was accurate when it was published (see years in brackets), but may have changed since then. Please check rates and details directly with the companies in question if you need more recent info.

History

Description

About 27 km west of Nemea, in a wide valley of the northwest Argolis is the location of Lake Stymphalia.

This lake is a typical Karst karst lake. It has numerous tributaries, but no surface drainage. The lake is a seasonal lake, it only exists in winter during the winter rains. In spring the lake begins to disappear, leaving behind a green and wet, somtimes swampy plain. In summer it dries out completely and leaves behind a flat, brown, and dry plain.

The drainage of the lake are Kathavothres ( Karst swallow holes). Strabon, the ancient geographer and historian (64/63 B.C. to 23 A.D.), described this strange behaviour and localized the drainage near Kefalari, south of Argos. We do not know, if modern hydrogeology verified this statement.

The lake also has a part in Greek mythology. This was the place of the man-eating Stymphalian Birds. This birds were killed by demigod Herakles.

Today the lake is still famous for birds, as it is a renowned bird and nature sanctuary.