Athens News Agency: News in English, 11-10-31
CONTENTS
[01] Migratory birds return to endangered lake
[01] Migratory birds return to endangered lake
AMNA--Pelicans and cormorans have reportedly returned to endangered Lake
Koronia, east of Thessaloniki in northern Greece, during the ongoing
autumn migration this month, scientists announced this week.
More than 700 pelican and other avian species reappeared after many
years in Lake Koronia this past month.
Lake Koronia faced an extremely serious ecological crisis over previous
years, including p ollution from agricultural and stockbreeding run-off
and and industrial wastewaters.
The greatest depth of the lake fell from 8.5 metres in 1977 fell to
4.5 metres in 1987. In the summer of 2002 the spot where the lake was
located was only a dried lake bed.
Efforts to restore the lake are currently focusing on persuading
surrounding farmers to shut down some 2,200 illegal wells and funneling
waters into a rejuventated wetlands.
Experts, meanwhile, have reported that the new irrigatiion network has
resulted in an improvement in the qualitative characteristics of the
lake's water.
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