Ambracian Gulf Wetlands (Amvrakikos)
Northern Ambracian Gulf lagoons, e.g. Koronisia (about 61 km / 1 hour 10 min by road from Preveza)
Photo: Gvasiliadis / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0One of Greece's great wetlands, right next to Preveza: lagoons with Dalmatian pelican colonies, more than 300 bird species, sea turtles and a resident population of bottlenose dolphins.
About Ambracian Gulf Wetlands (Amvrakikos)
The Ambracian Gulf (Amvrakikos) is about 40 km long and 15 km wide. It is one of the largest enclosed gulfs in Greece, and it opens to the Ionian only through the 700 m strait at Preveza. It is shallow, and the Louros and Arachthos rivers pour fresh water into it, so it is warmer and less salty than the open sea. Its northern shore breaks up into marshes, reed beds and lagoons. It has been a Wetland of International Importance under the Ramsar Convention since 1975, and it is protected as a national park.
More than 300 bird species have been recorded here. Dalmatian pelicans nest on islets in the Tsoukalio and Logarou lagoons. Their colonies here were among the few in Greece to survive the draining of wetlands in the 20th century. In the 2024 breeding season researchers counted about 5,900 pairs of colonial birds in the reed beds.
The gulf also has one of the highest densities of bottlenose dolphins in the Mediterranean. In 2024 the Tethys Research Institute identified 143 individuals, and this local population is listed as critically endangered. Loggerhead and green sea turtles feed here too, with 180 recorded in 2024. The gulf is known for its grey mullet, eels and big local shrimp (gámbari). One of the best ways in by car is the causeway through the lagoons to the fishing village of Koronisia.
Good to know
- Bring binoculars. The lagoons are best watched from the roads and causeways that cross them.
- Keep your distance from nesting islets and reed beds, as the birds are easily disturbed.
- Watch for dolphins from the shore or from a boat in the gulf.
- Try the local fish and gámbari at the tavernas in Koronisia, Preveza or Vonitsa.
Photos
Last updated 12 October 2026. Information checked against archelon.gr. Spotted something out of date? Use “Suggest a place” in the footer.
More nature & rivers in Preveza
Acheron Springs (Glyki)
Where the mythical river of the Underworld bursts out of the Souli gorge: walk in the river under plane trees, raft, or hike the old Souliote path of Skala Tzavelaina.
Louros River & Roman Aqueduct (Agios Georgios)
The green Louros valley at Agios Georgios, where the arches of the Roman aqueduct that carried spring water some 50 km to Nikopolis still stand by the river.