STYMFALIA LAKE

Text and research by Nikos Aivalis, translation by Eva Trombetas

Corinth, an ancient region surrounded by many myths. There we will find the mythical Stymfalia lake, a place with wonderful nature, of important ecological value, as well as history.

The lake got its name from the mythical hero Stymfalos, who was a descendant of Arkadas. However, the fact that made lake Stymfalia famous is the sixth feat of the demigod hero Hercules. The lake was inhabited by terrible birds, the so-called Stymfalides Ornithes. They are described as man-eating birds, with claws and wings made of copper, which instilled terror in humans. The great hero Hercules, causing noise, frightened the Ornithes, which came out of the dense vegetation of the lake, making it easier for Hercules to exterminate them. In Roman times, the emperor Hadrian built an aqueduct with which he supplied Corinth with water from the lake.

archaic amphora of 540 BC
with a representation of Hercules
fighting the Stymfalian birds
- British museum

The lake is located at an altitude of 600 meters, between the mountains Ziria and Oligyrtos. It is mainly a marshy lake, with a depth of 2 meters, but when the water level drops it reaches half a meter. It is the largest mountainous water basin of the Peloponnese. The vegetation of the surrounding area consists mainly of  Abies cephalonica, pines, plane trees, as well as bushes. The vegetation of the lake consists mainly of reeds and shrubs.

Stymfalia lake

Regarding its fauna one may find jackals, foxes, badgers, hedgehogs, lizards, amphibians, as well as hawks. It is also an important refuge and breeding ground for migratory and aquatic birds. The lake has two rare and endemic species of fish fauna: Pelasgus stymphalicus and the fish Phoxinellys Stymfalicious. The area of the lake, along with Mount Ziria, is a protected habitat of the Natura 2000 network.

the mythical Stymfalia lake