The biotope of Mesologi

Besides being one of the most important biotopes in Europe in terms of biodiversity, this small place in Western Greece is also my hometown.

Located in an area with more than 2500 years of history, the town itself became the center of attention in the early 19th century, during numerous unsuccessful sieges laid by the Ottoman Empire. Mesologi survived and the Industrial Revolution, that came soon afterwards, left it almost unchanged.

The salt mines at the edge of the town produce the majority of Greece’s salt. A lot has changed in the salt gathering methods , since my grandfather used to work there 50 years ago.

Salt production aside, the shallow waters of the salterns are home to thousands of species of animals, be it mammals, birds, reptiles, fish or insects. The heavy rainfalls all year round, combined with the abundance of prey and the temperate climate, make the area around the town a favorite stop on the migrating route of birds from and to Africa.

Nowadays, with the effects of climate change becoming visible in all of Southern Europe, environmental pressure on this biotope is becoming more and more apparent.