A paradise on earth, the national park of Kotychi-Strofilya wetlands, is situated in the north-western tip of the Peloponnese, in the prefectures of Achaia and Ilia, featuring special spatial, geomorphological and physical characteristics.
Extending over approximately 14,826 acres, excluding the marine ecosystems, the park stretches from the area of the Gulf of Patras to near Kyllini, and is a composition of very important habitats, including rare species of flora and fauna.
A unique combination of heterogeneous ecosystems of high aesthetic and ecological value is created by the Forest of Strofylia, renowned as the most extensive pine forest in Greece and one of the largest in Europe; the Lamia marsh, a large and shallow swamp; the 370-acre Prokopos lagoon with a depth of less than one and a half meters; the Kotychi Lagoon, the largest in the Peloponnese, and the Araxos Lagoon in park’s northernmost point; the limestone heights of the Black Mountains (altitude 240m); the dunes that form on the sandy beaches; the wet meadows of the area; the salt flats of Lechaino; and, the nearby sea subsystems.
The area’s natural beauty makes it suitable for many activities such as hiking, bird watching and cycling, and is protected by the Ramsar and Natura 2000 international treaties.
