Lake Pamvotis is millions of years old, the second oldest lake in Europe. During the Ice Age, it remained unscathed, so many animals fled to the waters until the weather warmed. Today, it is a sensitive ecosystem, protected by the European network NATURA 2000. 170 species of birds live on its shores, among them the ferruginous ducks, threatened with extinction worldwide; 9 species of amphibians, among them the crested tortoise and the yellow-bellied toad, which are also strictly protected; 24 species of reptiles and 2 species of turtles, the marshland and the Mediterranean turtle. Its fish-fauna includes imported and endemic species, such as the eel or maritsa, but also the tsima or Phoxinellusepiroticus, which unfortunately is close to extinction.