Actually a lagoon, it is long and narrow and extends over an area of 6000 stremmata (1500 acres), in which the local communities have applied systematic methods of fish farming. With the Ionian Sea washing across a spit of land on to Halikounas Beach, it is a magical spot, where sea and sand dunes blend, enhanced by fantastic sunsets. The track runs on and ends where the lake empties into the sea. Here, beside the ranger’s cabin with its three guard dogs, there is a small wooden bridge, which carries you into a unique forest where cedars grow on dunes dotted with white lilies and 14 species of orchid. It is not hard to find the footpath through the forest, which leads eventually to the northern end of Agios Georgios Beach. The entire area, from the lake to the far edge of the forest, constitutes an important wetlands habitat, where 126 different kinds of birds have been observed. In just one day, 1700 widgeons and 300 cormorants were counted, while the endangered Great White Egret numbers over 90.