Koroneia Lake, located in northern Greece and once the country’s fifth-largest lake, has diminished to less than 10 percent of its original size, recent data from the National Observatory of Athens indicates. This significant reduction in water levels is attributed to a combination of prolonged low rainfall over the past decade and extensive irrigation practices in the surrounding areas.

Previously designated as a protected wetland, Koroneia Lake served as an important habitat for thousands of migratory and water birds, including flamingos. The lake was also a popular destination for tourists, as well as a vital resource for local fishermen and farmers. However, the dramatic decline in water levels has transformed the lake’s landscape. The remaining water now exists in a series of shallow and murky ponds, while the exposed lake bed has become a large expanse of cracked and sun-bleached mud.

Local residents have expressed deep concern over the lake’s deteriorating condition. Costas Hatzivoulgaridis, the head of the lakeside community of Agios Vassilios, reflected on the stark contrast from previous years: “We knew the lake in its good days, with fishermen, with plenty of water, a wonderful park, and beautiful scenes with birds. Today, what we see is a disappointment.”

Efforts to address the issue have yet to reverse the trend, and the lake’s future remains uncertain amid ongoing environmental and agricultural pressures. The shrinking of Koroneia Lake exemplifies broader challenges faced by wetlands in the region, where climate variability and human activity continue to impact fragile ecosystems.