Kournas lake is the only freshwater lake in Crete.
It is in the Apokoronas region of Chania regional unit close to the border with Rethymno regional unit, at 2.5 klm from the sea. It is located on the northern edge of White Mountains.
Lake Kournas was known as Lake Koressia in antiquity but during Arabi occupation period in Crete took its current name from the Arabic word for lake.
Lake Kournas has a maximum length of 1,087 m and a maximum breadth of 880 m. It covers an area of 579,000 sq. m. and is generally shallow, 22.5 m at its deepest point, while it lies approximately 20 m above sea level. The lake would say that is pear-shaped with appendages result in artificial of water flow control dam, built in 1962.
In the lake are eels and hosts rare fishes, such as smelt and potamosaliara. There are also reptiles such as tranosafres, cat snake and a rare two-color turtle. The vegetation consists of native plants of Crete and the Eastern Mediterranean. The lake is an important station for migratory birds, is part of the Natura 2000 network and is protected Bird Protection Area.
Kournas Lake is ideal for a walk or a short trip in the day. The scenery is relaxing and beautiful, and is suitable for a walk in nature, swim or bike to the lake.
Source: wikipedia.org