Location information

Divari Lagoon (Pylos or Gialova Lagoon)

PYLOS (Small town) MESSINIA

• http://www.ornithologiki.gr/en/sppe/en084.htm

Divari lagoon

GIALOVA (Village) PYLOS
The salt lake of Divari is located in the north part of the Bay of Navarino in Pylos, between Yialova and the island of Sfaktiria. Since 1987 it has been a shelter for aquatic birds where hunting is forbidden. In the area of the salt lake have been recorded species of aquatic birds like: Ducks, falarides, Kormorani, herons, whitetsikniades, silverytsikniades, swans, wild swans, kalamokirkos as well as rare species of cranes and finikoptera (=palm feathers). It constitutes an excellent area for research on ornithology and the animal kingdom as well as on aquatic life and for observation of wild life by visitors who have relevant interests.

This text is cited March 2003 from the Messenia Prefecture Tourism Promotion Commission URL below, which contains image.

• http://www.na-messinia.gr/docs-en/t6c.htm

SAPIENTZA (Small island) METHONI
  The island of Sapietza is 2 km south of Methoni to which it belongs administratively.It is uninhabited and is 6.5 km in length and covers an area of 8.500 stremmata. Access to the island is possible via Methoni with small boats which anchor on the east coast which is more accessible and leeward.
  Its shape is oblong and it is composed by two parts which unite in the area of Lemos with a narrow strip of land which is 250 m. wide. It is rocky except for a small area of about 50 stremmata around which is a forest of arbutus bushes and fyliki in the form of trees. This forest has been characterised as the «esthetic forest» and constitutes a typical form of an undisturbed mediterranean forest.
  The climate is mediterranean with quite a bit of rainfall during winter but it has no drinking water.
  Since 1982 it has been a shelter for prey and occasionally pheasants, quails, partridges, tsoukar, Cretan chamois, woodcocks and species of doves have been freed there by the Inspectorate of Kalamata. The birds of prey are fed on arbutus bushes, schinokarpo and grass vegetation in winter and spring while in summer and due to the drought supplementary food is required.
  For their water supply reservoir facilities have been made, which are necessary for the growth of the birds of prey. Hunting in the area is only permitted if you have a special permit from the forest Inspectorate and only during specific seasons.

This text is cited March 2003 from the Messenia Prefecture Tourism Promotion Commission URL below, which contains image.

• http://www.na-messinia.gr/docs-en/t6b.htm

  On the east side of the island, a rocky bay is located, called Maghazakia, where a good dock is. This is where the path that leads to the heart of the island, starts. There, the mountains form a natural fort around the protected valley, where a miracle of nature is preserved intact, the only Mediterranean Strawberry Tree Forest. It is comprised of trees, not bushes, with a height that is well over 10 -12 m., which develop so much due to its isolation as well as the climatological conditions in the past 10.000 years. The forest and surrounding area of 24 hectars has been declared a natural preserve monument since 1986. Before this forest, an unusual sight is revealed: in the deep of the lushious green valley, in the center of the island, instead of vegitation, there is an orange-green plateau. This is a strange stone that was created by huge volumes of pollen that were concentrated there. This particular valley is named Spartolakka nad is the best source of information on the island for the scientists, concerning the dating of the forest.
  The surrounding slopes are coverd in thick Pistacia lentiscus, Quercus coccifera, Olea europaea sylvestris, Calycotome villosa, Querqus ilex, and wild flowers. The vegitation is wild and thick. It is the habitat for herds of wild animals and birds. Here we meet herds of wild cretan wild goats (known as krikri) as well as wild sheep (mouflon). Through the vegitation, pheasants, growse, Columba livia, Scolopax rusticola, Turdus philomelos, spring up in the air.
  It is usual for the visitor to come upon the previously mentioned inhabitants of the island. the area is controlled by the forestry dividion and hunting is allowed in it for a few months only, and for a particular number of game, under the supervision of a chaperon. In this way, the populations on the island are preserved.

This extract is cited March 2004 from the Municipality of Methoni URL below.

• http://www.methoni.gr/eng/geography.htm