Current view: Text account
Site description (2000 baseline):
Site location and context
The site comprises two freshwater lakes and a gorge. Lake Koronia is shallow, eutrophic and polluted. Lake Volvi is deeper and overflows through the Rentina gorge. The gorge is dominated by maquis and riverine scrub.
This site is important for passage and wintering waterbirds. Species of global conservation concern that do not meet IBA criteria:
Aythya nyroca (minimum 43 wintering individuals),
Oxyura leucocephala (wintering),
Haliaeetus albicilla (wintering),
Falco naumanni (passage). The site holds 20,000 or more waterbirds, on a regular basis (including
Podiceps cristatus 6,729;
Aythya ferina 8,029;
Aythya fuligula 1,361;
Fulica atra 12,736).
Pressure/threats to key biodiversity
Declining water-levels and water pollution, from agricultural and industrial sources, are a severe threat. A pollution incident in 1995 left thousands of waterbirds dead. In the gorge, fire is a serious problem and has previously caused severe damage. Part of the area is a candidate SAC.
National Partial
International Partial2,100 ha of IBA covered by Wildlife Refuge (Limni Lagada, 2,100 ha). 500 ha of IBA covered by Wildlife Refuge (Paralimnio Dasos Apollonias, 500 ha). 669 ha of IBA covered by Wildlife Refuge (Richios Potamos, 669 ha). 16,388 ha of IBA covered by Ramsar Site (Lakes Volvi and Langada (Koronia), 16,388 ha). 15,671 ha of IBA covered by Special Protection Area (Limnes Volvi and Lagkada and Stena Rentinas, 15,671 ha).
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Lakes Volvi, Koroneia and Rentina Gorge (Greece). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/lakes-volvi-koroneia-and-rentina-gorge-iba-greece on 22/11/2024.