Korission Lagoon
Korission Lagoon is a coastal lagoon located in the southern part of the Greek island of Corfu, in the Ionian Sea. It is located near the village of Agios Mattheos and is separated from the sea by Chalikouna Beach. It has a surface area of 427 ha and it drains into the sea through a channel which bisects Chalikouna Beach. The lagoon was created by the sand dunes that cut the lake's basin off from the sea between 140,000 and 250,000 years ago.
Korission Lagoon and its environs are protected by the Natura 2000 treaty, the protected area includes the nearby coastal areas, an unusual forest of prickly juniper Juniperus phoenicea, which is known as cedar, in addition to many sand dunes which reach heights in excess of. There are also small reed beds and groves of tamarisk, white water lilies and 14 different species of orchid in the dunes. The lagoon has had over 126 species of birds recorded, including among others great cormorants, Eurasian wigeons, great egrets and greater flamingo. There are also many species of butterfly, as well as the Jersey tiger moth. The Corfu dwarf goby is endemic to the lagoon and its surrounding springs. Other fish species found in the waters of the lagoon include the Mediterranean killifish and the Epiros minnow ''. Reptiles present in the area include the chelonians Hermann's tortoise, the European pond turtle and the Balkan pond turtle, while among the snake species recorded are the javelin sand boa and the four-lined snake. The mammals present include greater horseshoe bats, long-fingered bats and, possibly, European otters.
Korission Lagoon and the land around it have been subjected to archaeological excavations. Early finds included part of the lower jaw of a hippopotamus, among smaller bones, and a worked stone from the Paleolithic. The stone confirmed human presence around the waterbody in the Paleolithic. Subsequent excavations discovered more bones and artifacts.