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Estuary of torrent Harakas

In Armenistis

The estuary of the torrent Harakas (swamp Livadi) is located about 0.5 km east - southeast of the village Armenistis. It is a natural coastal wetland area of ​​32.7 acres. This is a torrent with a relatively permanent flow throughout the year and brackish water, that feeds mainly on small farmers scattered along the riverbed.

The wetland is located within an area declared as Swamp Livadi (estuary of torrent Harakas). The reed occur as habitat type in the wetland. The wetland has a rich biodiversity of flora and fauna, as well as populations of many protected and endemic species.

It presents an  ultra-water vegetation of reed and rushes, which dominate throughout its length and oleanders, osier and lentisk. It also hosts a wide variety of birds, reptiles and amphibians.

The activities in the watershed are relatively mild, mainly grazing and cultivation. The major threats to the wetland resulting mainly from these two activities are overgrazing and the intense irrigation of crops that takes place uncontrollably by tires from the riverbed, thereby reducing the water level.

Lately, another threat has been intense to the habitat, which is the increased tourism during the summer months, because at the end of the estuary, there is the sandy beach Livadi, very famous to all visitors.

Coordinates: 
37° 37' 49.361" N, 26° 5' 24.898" E
Habitats
Armenistis