Nestos National Park - Porto Lagos and Lake Vistonida

Nestos National Park is one of the most important wetlands of the Balkans that spreads on the coast of the Thracian sea and magnetizes thousands of birds every year. The National Park of Nestos Delta and lakes Vistonida-Ismarida was founded in 2008 and is the largest national park of Greece. It covers an area of 230 acres in the south of the prefectures of Kavala, Xanthi and Rodopi. It spreads in a horizontal strip and includes, from West to East, the lagoons of Vassova, Eratinos, Agiasma, Keramoti and Monastiraki, the estuary of Nestos river with the riparian forest of Kotza Orman, the lagoons Erasmios, Maggana, Lafrouda and Lafri, lake Vistonida, lagoons Porto Lagos, Xerolimni, Karatza, Aliki, Ptelea and Elos, lake Ismarida and the estuary of Filiouris river.

In the north the park is bordered by the low mountains of Lekani and Achladovouno, the Mangilia hills and Papikio mountain, while in the south it ends at the Thracian sea. Dozens of different habitats cover the area, such as lagoons, large and small lakes, estuaries, swamps, small hills, streams, salt flats, riparian forests, wet meadows, sand dunes, coves with shallow waters, crops, shrubs, reeds, etc. This whole wetland system magnetizes thousands of species of wildlife. The avifauna impresses both in numbers and in the presence of particularly rare species. The ichthyofauna follows with many endemic fresh and brackish fish. The National Park of Nestos Delta and lakes Vistonida-Ismarida seems endless, despite being easily accessible, and there is not one day of the year that does not offer rare experiences for the naturalist.

Nestos National Park has 3 main locations:

1 Porto Lagos salt pans can be nice for nesting terns, Slender-billed Gull and waders on migration

2 Porto Lagos beach for Eurasian Oystercatcher and migrating waders

3 Lake Vistonida and Porto Lagos lagoon can produce several nice birds such as breeding Gull-billed Tern