Lagoons

Koukounaries lake or Lake Strofilia is a typical lagoon located 7.4 km west of Skiathos Town, behind a famous and highly tourist swimming beach. Koukounaries Wetland is one of the main attractions of the island. Member of the Natura 2000 network, it consists of forest and lagoon that have been declared a Wildlife Refuge, a Monument of nature and a cradle of civilisation. The forest (with its characteristic pine trees in the western part and the Pinus halepensis in the eastern part), one of three forests of this kind across Greece, is coastal, stretches over a sandy area with dunes and is located between the sea and the wetland of Koukounaries, with Lake Strofilia being the most interesting part.

Lake Strofilia, covering an area of 350 hectares, has a different salinity, depending on the salt inputs from sea and rain. Therefore, the vegetation in freshwater to brackish water consists mainly of reeds and tamarisks and in saltier waters consists of cattails, annual plants and a variety of marine fauna. Refuge for migratory birds, because of its complex natural environment, the lake occasionally gathers several rare bird species. Among others, herons, moorhens, cormorants, flamingos, wild geese, water turtles, etc. compose one of the most impressive images that you will see during your stay in Skiathos.