GR4340020 - LIMNI AGIAS (CHANIA)
Map
Photos of the site
Quality
This is an important area for passage and wintering waterbirds. Species of concern include: Egretta garzetta and Aythya nyroca.
Other characteristics
The site is situated at the northeastern part of Crete, west of Chania. It includes the artificial lake of Agia. Although it is not a natural lake, it supports a varied selection of wetland communities (probably the most varied in the Cretan area). According to the historical data, in the past there was a small bog at the same place where the artificial lake exists today. Agia's hydrological basin is different from the one of Keritis and includes the slopes north of Vathipetro village.Xekolomenos stream on the east supplies the lake with water. The lake is also supplied on the west side by some underground springs originating from Keritis stream.At the periphery of the wetland, large stands of Phragmites australis are important for the structure of the lake ecosystem. On the southern part of Agia the Public Enterprises of Water Supply and Draining of Chania is installed. Close to the installations there are two large stands of Eucalyptus tostrata and Pinus brutia.
Documentation
Heath, M. F. and Evans, M. I., eds. 2000. Important Bird Areas in Europe: Priority sites for conservation. 2: Southern Europe. Cambridge, UK: BirdLife International. BirdLife Conservation Series No. 8, p. 791.
Reference: Natura 2000 data form, database release 7 Feb 2014