Lake Orestiada
Lake Orestiada, also known as the Lake of Kastoria, is in northwestern Greece in the Kastoria region. It covers about 28 square kilometers and sits around 630 meters above sea level. The shoreline is about 34 kilometers long, and the lake’s depth ranges from roughly 4.5 meters to about 9–10 meters.
The lake lies in a natural basin between mountains. A peninsula from the town of Kastoria divides the lake into two parts, giving it a kidney-like shape. Nearby mountains include Mount Vitsi to the northeast, Mount Triklarios to the northwest, and the foothills of Voios to the southwest.
Lake Orestiada is fed mainly by waters from Mount Vitsi via the Xiropotamos on the eastern bank, along with several smaller streams. Nine streams flow into the lake, and water leaves through the Gioli stream to the Haliacmon river. The lake’s catchment area is about 267 square kilometers.
The lake is a remnant of a much larger ancient Miocene lake that once covered 164 square kilometers and was up to 50 meters deep. In winter, the lake can freeze for 2 to 5 weeks.
Nearby attractions include the town’s Byzantine heritage and the 11th-century Panagia Mavriotissa monastery, as well as the nearby Dispilio prehistoric settlement, where the Dispilio Tablet was found in 1992.
Ecologically, Lake Orestiada is eutrophic, meaning it is rich in nutrients from agricultural runoff and sewage. It features wetlands, reedbeds, lakeside forests, and a variety of aquatic and surrounding plants. The area supports a rich bird life: more than 200 species have been seen, with about 90 species nesting there. The lake is home to pelicans, geese, herons, ducks and swans, and it is the largest breeding ground for the mute swan in Greece. Raptors and owls also live in the surrounding area.
This page was last edited on 3 February 2026, at 18:38 (CET).