Lake Lysimachia

ΕΛΛΗΝΙΚΑ

Lake Lysimachia with Agrinio in the background

Lake Lysimachia, a freshwater lake in the prefecture of Aetolia-Acarnania, lies to the south of the city of Agrinio — just 5 to 6 km away — making it a nearby aquatic jewel of the region.
It covers an area of about 13.2 km² (or 13.1 square kilometers), with a perimeter of roughly 17 km, and a maximum depth of only 9 m.

The lake is formed in the basin lying between the mountain ranges of Panaitoliko and Arakynthos.

It is located about 2 km from the other large lake of the Aetolian Plain, Lake Trichonida — separated from it only by a narrow strip of land — and together they form a single, unified ecosystem.

Historical Notes

In the past, Lakes Lysimachia and Trichonida were fully connected, forming a vast wetland rich in dense forests — as recorded by travelers of the 19th and early 20th centuries.

The construction of the old national road from Antirrio to Ioannina (GR-5, E55), along with accompanying irrigation works, caused their separation; today they are connected only through a controlled channel and engineered waterworks.

Water Supply and Hydrological System

Lysimachia receives water from:

the Ermitsa stream,

underground springs and numerous small torrents from the Panaitoliko and Arakynthos mountains (about 15 in total),

and the abundant waters of Trichonida, via the Alampei canal with controlled flow.

The lake discharges its waters to the Acheloos River through the Dimikos River. In return, it serves as a regulating water reservoir, with engineering works such as tunnels (about 6,410 m in length), canals, and dams (operating since 1981) that supply irrigation to farmland covering up to 280,000 stremmas (28,000 hectares).

Ecology & Environment

The lake and its surrounding area are part of the Natura 2000 protection network, under the codes GR2310009 (shared habitat with Lake Trichonida) and GR2310013 for Lysimachia.

The lakeshore vegetation consists mainly of reed beds (Scirpus holoschoenus, Paspalum paspaloides, Mentha aquatica, Cyperus longus), shrubs (Vitex agnus-castus), and centuries-old trees such as plane trees (Platanus orientalis) and wild willows (Salix alba, Populus alba). In deeper waters, endemic aquatic plants appear, including Vallisneria spiralis, Ceratophyllum demersum, Myriophyllum spicatum, and Najas marina.

The lake’s zooplankton community, studied between 2003 and 2010, numbers around 36 species — the highest among five Greek lakes — indicating a relatively good ecological state and a recovering ecosystem.

Scenery & Visitor Experience

The lake offers idyllic views from the surrounding hills or higher vantage points, as its shores have no tourist facilities. This absence of development lends the landscape a tranquil, untouched character, perfect for those seeking nature in its purest form.