This image, captured by the Sentinel-2 mission on November 9th, 2023, showcases the Messolonghi-Etoliko Lagoon system in Greece.

The lagoons are located in the central west coast of Greece, where the Patraikos Gulf meets the Ionian Sea. It is a shallow area of 150 km², extending between the Acheloos and Evinos rivers.

The Etoliko Lagoon is separated from the larger Messolonghi Lagoon to the south by the island of Etoliko. Together, they form the largest system of lagoons in Greece and one of the largest in the Mediterranean.
This complex of wetlands comprises six distinct interlinked lagoons. The central lagoon is the largest portion of the lagoon system (about 80 km²) and has a mean depth of 0.8m.

Protected by the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, and included in the Natura 2000 network, the Messolonghi-Etoliko Lagoon National Park is rich in flora and fauna, including more than 290 species of birds and more than 100 species of fish.

Avgotaracho of Messolonghi

The flathead grey mullet is fished in these lagoons, in natural fish farms, called 'ivaria'; the eggs of the female grey mullet are used to produce avgotaracho.

Avgotaracho is the Greek bottarga. It derives its name from the combination of the Greek words 'avgo' meaning 'egg' and 'tarihevo' meaning 'to preserve'. (In English, the Italian word "bottarga" is commonly used).
Avgotaracho stands out for its limited production (only 500 to 700 kilos are produced each year), labor-intensive preparation, and brief fishing season, resulting in a higher price (it sells for around 25 euros per 100 grams).
Locals in Messolonghi refer to it as the "gold of the lagoon"; avgotaracho holds significance as a longstanding source of livelihood and is recognized for its distinct amber hue.

Avgotaracho is one of the few seafood products with a PDO (Protected Designation of Origin).

Pelades

Until 1700, Messolonghi was under Venetian rule and its population consisted mainly of fishermen who resided in structures known as 'pelades'. These cabins were constructed from a water-resistant mixture of straw and reeds, elevated on stilts above the sea to prevent direct contact with the water.^[1]

The Salterns of Messolonghi

The salt pans of Messolonghi can be seen in this image. It is the largest salt work in Greece, with a production capacity of about 120.000 tones of salt per year, producing more than 60 percent of the country's salt.

A salt pan serves as the site for salt production, where seawater undergoes evaporation through the help of sunlight and air. These pans are typically shallow and partitioned into separate compartments, containing seawater that evaporates to yield salt crystals. In these regions, particularly during summer, the evaporation process intensifies, and the replenishment of evaporated water occurs gradually, leading to the crystallization of salt. ^[2]

There are two salt pans that have been active in the region for hundreds of years. The biggest one is called "the White Salt pan". Its extent is about 12.5 km² and it belongs to the public sector. The smaller one called "Tourlida Salt pan" belongs to the Municipality of Messolonghi.^[3]

Also visible, at the centre of this image, is the Acheloos river, discharging into the Ionian sea.

References

[1] Messolonghi - Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture, University of Patras [link]
[2] Salt pans - Xiros Messolonghi Salt IKE [link]
[3] Salt Museum - History of the museum [link]