Lake Volvi

Lake Volvi is located at the root of the Halkidiki peninsula, in the regional unit of Thessaloniki, Greece. It is the second largest lake in the country at 12 miles (19 km) long 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 Koroneia (Lake Lagada).

The Roman road Via Egnatia runs along the northern shore of the lake, while an older road crossed the southern. To its east is the narrow valley of Rentina, also known as "Macedonian Temples". The municipalities of Volvi and Lagada have a coastline on the lake.

History

About a million years ago, Lake Volvi, Lake Koronia and the whole of Mygdonia formed a single huge lake.

In the ancient description of Thucydides, Bolbe was the name of a lake in Mygdonia, located near the Aegean Sea. The lake emptied into the gulf of Strymons through a stream that crossed the pass once known as Aulon or Arethousa. The name of the stream is not mentioned in the description, but apparently it is the Erechius (Romanized as Rechius) mentioned in the work of the scholar Procopius. Ammites and Olynthiakos are also mentioned among the smaller streams that flow into the lake. The lake perch was particularly admired by the culinary poet Archistratos.

According to Greek mythology, the lake goddess or nymph Bolbe resided in Lake Volvi.