Benitses
Ai Mathias
It is a long narrow lagoon with an area of approximately 6,000 acres. Systematic fish farming is practiced there. With the Ionian sea right next to it (Xalikouna beach) it composes a magnificent landscape of water and sand dunes that ends with the sunset. The road that passes between them ends at the opening of the lake to the sea. Here, apart from the keeper's hut with his three dogs, there is a small wooden bridge leading across, at the beginning of a sparse forest. It is a unique forest on the sand, with cedars, white lilies and 14 different orchid species. You will find with relative ease the paths that cross the forest and lead to the northern end of the beach of Ai-Giorgis. This whole area, from the lake to the end of the forest is an important wetland since 126 species of birds have been observed. In a single day, 1700 whistlers and 300 cormorants were seen, while more than 90 of the endangered egrets were seen.
