Lake Volvi

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Lake Volvi
Location Thessaloniki regional unit
Coordinates 40°40′54″N 23°28′02″E / 40.68167°N 23.46722°E / 40.68167; 23.46722Coordinates: 40°40′54″N 23°28′02″E / 40.68167°N 23.46722°E / 40.68167; 23.46722
Catchment area 1,247 km2 (481 sq mi)
Basin countries Greece
Max. length 21.50 km (13.36 mi)
Max. width 6 km (3.7 mi)
Surface area 70 km2 (27 sq mi)
Max. depth 22.3 m (73 ft)
Water volume 0.94 km3 (0.23 cu mi)
Surface elevation 37 m (121 ft)

Lake Volvi (Greek: Λίμνη Βόλβη, modern: Limni Vólvi) is located in the root of the Chalkidiki peninsula, in the Thessaloniki regional unit, Greece. Lake Volvi is the second largest lake in Greece. It is about 12 miles (19 km) in length, and 6 or 8 miles (9.7 or 12.9 km) wide. The area is 68 km² and the depth is 20 m. It is located east of Lake Koronia (Lake Lagkada).

The new Via Egnatia highway runs along the northern shore of the lake and the old road runs to the south. West is the narrows of Rentina, also known as the "Macedonian Tempe" since it resembles the valley of Tempe. The municipalities with shores on the lake are Rentina, Madytos, Apollonia, Egnatia, and Sochos.

History

About a million years ago, Lake Volvi along with Lake Koronia and the entire Mygdonia was a huge lake.

In the antic description by Thucydides Bolbe was the name of a lake in Mygdonia, located at no great distance from the Aegean Sea. The lake emptied itself into the Strymon Gulf by means of a stream flowing through the pass once known as Aulon or Arethusa. The name of the stream is not mentioned by in the description, but it is evidently the same as the Erechios (Romanized as Rechius) in Procopius (de Aedificiis, 4.4). Among the smaller streams flowing into the lake we find mention of the Ammites and the Olynthiakos. The perch (labrach) of the lake were particularly admired by the gastronomic poet Archestratus.

There was also a town named Bolbos (Romanized as Bolbus) located near the lake. Today, there are two towns (villages) incorporating Vólvi in their name, situated along the lake. It is not known exactly if any of these modern towns correspond to the site of ancient Bolbos.

See also

  • List of lakes in Greece
  • Mygdonia
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External links

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