Kalama Delta

“The mountains and the hills that existed around the River Delta Kalamas once constituted islets of the estuary. River sedimentation over the centuries along the Thesprotia region covered the sea around them and formed the current fertile plain that extends over the Igoumenitsa-Raya-Sagia Triangle. The area, located at the nucleus of the Natura 2000 protected area, is one of the most important wetlands of the country with rich fauna and flora. Due to the virgin quality of the environment, the wider region attracts many guests interested in aquatic birds “(Olig, 2013). Just a few kilometers from the border with Albania, on the coast of the Ionian Sea is one of the most important wetlands of Western Greece and Europe. This is the river delta Kalamas includes the estuary of its old and new bed, the lagoon shallow, Vatatsas, Loutsa Papadia, Kantas, etc., and the terrestrial fertile area that is gradually formed by the river deposits. The extent of the Kalamas Delta Protected area is 8,531 hectares. Its altitude ranges from 0-12m, while at its land there are also high hills of islands, such as the Black Mountain (or Mountain of Kestrin, 509m. Altitude) and Mastillitsa, but also others. “The area is important at national level (Nature Protection Area, N. 20050/86, Art. Code GR 2120005), due to its rich biodiversity, but also its geographical position that is important as it is an integral part of the Western Migration Bird Road. In the Kalamas River Delta we meet a complex mosaic of vegetation consisting of 16 types of habitats. The 14 of them are included in Directive 92/43 / EU, while the “lagoons” habitat is of priority “(Managing Agency Kalamas – Acheron – Corfu, CHC). This priority is due to the plurality of fish and birds that find there shelter (more than 174 bird species, many of them rare and endangered (place of Heronia, hosts more than 1% of A. Mediterranean’s Egretta Alba And the Black Sea, a significant number of Platalea Leucorodia, Chalkokotas (PLEGADIS FALCINELLUS) of Palm Trees and Lefkotsikniades, as well as Argyropelekers, which in recent years appear throughout the year), 30 kinds of fish From which the small Valencia Letourneuxi fisherman is a rare and protected species, 16 reptile species (5 types of turtles, two freshwater, 2 land and one marine, 4 kinds of lizards, 7 s), 22 mammalian species (some of which It is Neomys Anomalus, Talpa Stankovici, Felis Silvestris, Myocastor Coypus, 5 species of amphibian (2 toads-bufo bufo, bufo Viridis, Hyla Arborea, Rana Epeirotica & Rana Balc Anica) and 29 kinds of invertebrates) (Managing Agency Kalamas – Acherontas – Corfu, CHC). According to the latest scope registrations – Chloride Research made (2007-2008, Raus, Dimopoulos, Tzanoudakis & Christodoulakis) in the area of ​​Stena and Delta Kalamas, it is a very high chlorida wealth, which amounts to 1311 Taxa (species and subspecies ) (Managing Agency Kalamas – Acheron – Corfu, CHC). Suggested Activities
• Walk the kalama delta, enjoying the habitat. “We recommend that you start your route from Sagiada between the main settlement and the” staircase “that is his harbor. From there a dirt road leads where the delta starts. The center of the aquatic habitat is on your left-hand side under the lonely hill of Mistillitsa. On your right you can see the old Sagiada salt boasts that have been incorporated into the wetland. If you want to have a better view of the habitat and the delta, you could easily climb the rocky slopes of Mistitsa. You are likely to see some of the flocks of wild horses living around the delta. On the southeastern side of the hill you will see the ruins of an ancient castle, from the ruin you can have amazing views of the river. There are two ways to access the delta. One of them is to spend the bridge near the sea to Delta (but only during the summer season, as in winter there is a lot of mud). The other is to go to the reed bridge and then turn right. The dirt road reaches the beginning of the river estuary. From there you can continue until the delta’s edge where the waters of Kalama are poured into the sea. You can get information about the delta and flora and fauna from the Information Center that works on the waterfront of the Saja Stack. It’s good to visit the Information Center before visiting the Delta. The islands formed in the delta are a very good spot for observing thousands of birds living in the wetland. You can get to the islands with Caravaki from Sagiada. The Kalamas River can navigate with a small boat until its last bridge. The route is amazing “(Olig, 2013).
• Walk the path “Bologna Bridge – Spiripphalia”. “This environmental route offers a unique experience crossing an amazing canyon along the river Kalamas
causing wild beauty awe on the walker. Initially the walker follows the river bed against the course of
And then goes up to the abrupt slope of the canyon where it acquires its magnificent view framed by the River Echo and Antillos … in the course of this wildlife observation such as Zarkasas, wild boars and the Bikes are not a rare phenomenon. The canyon is located birds such as Argyroutziknias, Hawk, Kotsifi etc. Finally, the walker again goes down to the river bed in Post Spyririonades where springs with crystal clear water are spilled and poured into the river. There are benches for relaxation from this average route difficulty “(Chamber of Thesprotia, 2013). M. 3.27 Dr.
• The landscape, vegetation and the view along the Kalama River is magnificent. Although there are not in the area landscaped paths for walking paths, the management player proposes some routes that mainly designs with abandoned rural roads.
The proposed routes for the estuary of Kalamas River are:
o “By walking out the estuary: a pleasant 20 km. that can be done by car or even better by bicycle, it is the one that crosses the area of ​​Delta along, from the beach of Drepanos and the lagoons of shallow and Vatatsas, passing through the plain, the old and new river bed, The archaeological sites of the Ragios and Mistillitsa Tower, to the Kalama Information Center, observing many different data on the area. ”
o “In the old river estuary: following the road to Kestrini and before you reach the settlement turn left and follow the dirt road that is located alongside Mavronerorios and next to the old Kalamas river bed. Follow this road to the sea, where you meet the beach of Loutsa Papadia, where you can enjoy your swim. On this route you can enjoy Lakitsa Lagoon, traditional fish fish and reeds, fishermen’s huts in the water as well as to observe many kinds of wage birds. It is worth doing this route (length 4km) with your bike or walking ”
o “Towards Old Kakitis: A particularly beautiful ambulatory or cycling route is the one that starts from the point where Drepano with Makrigiali (PPC Substation) and reaches to the estuary of the old Kalamas river bed. Following the asphalt road from the beach of Drepanos to Kampos, we find a small pump in our left hand. At this point there is a wooden bridge that we pass and follow the abrupt path at the foot of the rich in vegetation Terms of Starry. It is very likely in the drainage groove that there is our right to meet ducks and myoclitles. We continue our course along the floody embankment until we reach the point where the old river river is expelled. It is a very pleasant route in which we can observe many kinds of animals and plants, including large birds, silver-levels that frequent the marine bay of Balcon. The route is 5 km long. And if we want we can continue from the rural road, passing through the plain, next to the old bed and the archaeological site of Pyrgos Tower, making a circular course of 12 km long. ”
O “In Old Sagiada: Outside the boundaries of Delta Protected Area Kalamas but very close to it is an easy uphill 5 km from a landscaped path that starts from Skala Sagiada to the abandoned traditional settlement of Sagiada. It is worthwhile to carry out this route and the view that will offer him to Kalamas Delta will reward him “(Kalama – Acheron – Corfu Management Agency, 2020B)
O “Towards New Years: The Kalamas River has created a new delta, which extends rapidly. One can visit it, going from Igoumenitsa to Sagiada, turning left to Rayo village before the dam. Following the asphalt turn right to Sagiada and immediately after the elevated bridge of Kalama turn left and progress until the end of the dirt road. You continue on foot until the river flows to the sea (Kalama – Acherontas – Corfu, 2020B)
o “Inside the waters of the sea and the river: to visit the islands in the delta and observe the thousands of birds nesting in the wetland, you have to go with a boat from the neighboring Sagiada. One can sail in the river as the last bridge within a magical journey. There are no organized ecotourism programs, but one can ask the fishermen of Sagiada, a guided tour of “Kalama – Acherontas – Corfu, 2020B)
• It is worthwhile to try Canyonning in the “Straits” River Kalamas (Anonymous, 2014).