Amvrakikos

Amvrakikos

Greece
Amvrakikos Gulf

Amvrakikos (Ambracian) is a gulf of the Ionian Sea in Western Greece formed by the Deltas of two rivers(Aracthos and Louros) and is considered one of the biggest physical enclosed gulfs in the country. Along its shores have been developped numerous marsches that have turned the place in one of the biggest wetlands and most thriving estuary ecosystems in Mediterranean Sea characterized of international importance and protected by the international treaty RAMSAR. Moreover due to the presence of rare and endangered bird species as well as due to their distinctive habitats and mandatory routes is also considered as one of the most important protected areas of NATURA 2000 Network.Thousands of birds rest,feed and breed here, some considered rare species as the Dalmatian Pelecan, the Gred Bittern and the Ferruginus Duck.
But one of the most striking features of this vast wetland are the rich reed beds and flooded meadows that, under the variations of the atmospherical conditions due to the seasonal changes,turn to a thick, muddy, almost solid earth soil one can even step and walk safely on and which is susceptible to amazing color variabilities due mainly to the extremes of temperature, moisture and degree of evaporation. A lot of birds nest and breed in such reed beds sheltered in marvellous physical lagoons and flower rich gorges where only their cries and fluttering can be heard...
In the photo one such marchland with the bizarre color variations is presented.