Lake Volvi

Lake Volvi (Greek: Λίμνη Βόλβη, Límni Vólvi) is located in the root of the Chalkidiki peninsula, in the Thessaloniki regional unit of Greece. It is the second largest lake in the country at 12 miles (19 km) in length, and 6 or 8 miles (9.7 or 12.9 km) wide. The area is 68 km² and the depth is 20 m. It is located east of Lake Koroneia (Lake Langadas).

Lake Volvi
Panoramic view
Lake Volvi
Location	Thessaloniki regional unit
Coordinates	40°40′54″N 23°28′02″E
Catchment area	1,247 km^2 (481 sq mi)
Basin countries	Greece
Max. length	21.50 km (13.36 mi)
Max. width	6 km (3.7 mi)
Surface area	70 km^2 (27 sq mi)
Max. depth	22.3 m (73 ft)
Water volume	0.94 km^3 (0.23 cu mi)
Surface elevation	37 m (121 ft)
Ramsar Wetland
Official name	Lakes Volvi & Koronia
Designated	21 August 1975
Reference no.	57[1]

The Roman road Via Egnatia runs along the northern shore of the lake, while a more ancient road ran along its southern one. On its east is the narrow valley of Rentina, also known as the "Macedonian Tempe". The municipalities of Volvi and Langadas have shoreline on the lake.

History

About a million years ago, Lake Volvi, Lake Koroneia and the entire Mygdonia formed a single huge lake.

In the antique description by Thucydides, Bolbe was the name of a lake in Mygdonia, located near the Aegean Sea. The lake emptied itself into the Strymon Gulf by means of a stream flowing through the pass once known as Aulon or Arethusa. The name of the stream is not mentioned in the description, but it is evidently the Erechios (Romanized as Rechius) mentioned in scholar Procopius' work, De aedificiis. Among the smaller streams flowing into the lake, Ammites and Olynthiakos are also mentioned. The perch (labrach) of the lake were particularly admired by the gastronomic poet Archestratus.

Per Greek mythology, the lake goddess or nymph Bolbe dwelled in Lake Volvi.

During the rule of the Ottoman, the name of the lake was بشيك كولى "Beşik Gölü" (lit. Cradle Lake).[2]

There was also a town named Bolbos (Romanized as Bolbus) located near the lake. Today, there are two towns (villages) incorporating Vólvi in their name, situated along the lake. It is not known exactly if any of these modern towns correspond to the site of ancient Bolbos.

See also

• List of lakes in Greece
• Mygdonia

References

1. "Lakes Volvi & Koronia". Ramsar Sites Information Service. Retrieved 25 April 2018.
2. Rumeli-i Şahane Haritası, Harvard Map Collection, Ottoman Empire Series, Index Map, 1:210,000 Scale, c. 1901/1902, http://iiif.lib.harvard.edu/manifests/view/drs:4952983$19i Retrieved: 18.05.2016

External links

• Article on Lake Volvi, with photos.