A wander through an area of great environmental importance
We leave Paralio Astros behind us and head towards Tyros. Almost four years ago, and while I was in those places again, I remember bathing in the area of the Moustos wetland and in particular, in the springs.
A few days ago, together with Kostis Angelopoulos, the partner photographer, we were in the area again. He comes from Arcadia and spent many of his summers as a teenager and afterwards – he is only 24 – at Astros. “Our favorite was to go swimming in the springs” he tells me, and we don’t miss an opportunity to move there. As an “insider”, he guides me intelligently and we avoid a section of the road, where there was actually construction going on and there was a difficulty in traffic. In almost five minutes, we are at the wetland parking lot. There, one can stand and observe the birds in the wetland. However, we will see all of this later, as we now head to the sources.
In the sources
A breath from the parking lot, on a downhill concrete road, a few meters, just below the asphalt road. You see the water gurgling and, even though it’s still March, there’s enough heat and African dust to make you want to dive in.
A sign warns you that you should not enter the water without shoes, rather to avoid the risk of injury on the sharp rocks that surround the semi-circle of springs. Just touching the water with my hand makes me realize how cold it is.
“Even on very hot summer days, here there is always a difficulty with the water temperature.
However, it is something very refreshing” Kostis will say.
Walking in the wetland
A little time passes and we proceed towards the wetland. It is a point of exceptional natural beauty and enormous environmental importance. The area, located about two kilometers south of Astros and close to Tyros and Leonidio in the Eastern Peloponnese, offers a beautiful and valuable space for nature and biodiversity.
THE lake of Mustostogether with its marsh and the two man-made canals that connect it to the sea, is a refuge for many species of migratory birds and is important for the area’s fauna, which includes waterfowl, reptiles and fish.
The origin of must
History has it that its name comes from must, due to the vineyards in the area, as well as its past use as a loading port. The lake, which is fed by a brackish water spring, has healing properties due to the sulfur salts it contains, which makes it a magnet for visitors seeking recovery and wellness. The natural landscape around the lake is ideal for hiking and exploring, offering stunning visual experiences and a sense of oneness with nature.
Protected area, Natura 2000
The entire area of the Mustou Wetland is included in European Natura 2000 Networkthus confirming its environmental importance and emphasizing the need to protect and preserve these precious natural spaces.
At the observatory
We proceed through the dirt road and reach a wooden watchtower. Some species of birds fly by us, and then, using the drone and flying high so as not to disturb us, Kostis finds a few more. I look at the images on the small screen and I am very pleased with where we are. Looking back at the images I wonder how much beauty can fit into one click and at the same time I remember with nostalgia that beautiful morning, on the dirt roads of the wetland.
The beauty is hidden in the truth of this place. We only need silence to hear it.
Tags: Unexplored Places Refreshing Spring Water Habitat Mustos
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