Lake Loudias

[smittysmitty]

In appreciation to anyone that might be able to lead me in direction of studies completed on Pella and Lake Loudias. Always wondered if any geological study had been performed to confirm the existance of the Lake. I have no doubt the Lake existed, just if any studies had come about on the subject.
In appreciation
Cheers!

[yiannis]

Hi Smitty, here's some info I found (not much):Four rivers flow into Thermaikos Bay: Gallikos, Axios, Loudias, and Aliakmon. The bay had quite a different shape in ancient times. Before 500 B.C. the plain of Thessaloniki was under water and the Macedonian capital Pella was a port. Sedimentation from the rivers filled in a portion of the bay while forming the Loudias Lake (also known as Gianitsa Lake). The landscape was altered again in the mid-war period when the Gianitsa Lake was drained and the flow of Axios River was changed.
http://www.veth.gr/en/introsalonika/today.htmAnother link mentions:
The Loudias River traverses Pella Prefecture, giving its life and fertility. Its route in the plain of Giannitsa coincides with the place where the shallow and swampy lake of Giannitsa was situated, and which was drained approximately 70 years ago (1928-1932).
http://www.worldtravelgate.gr/greece/gi ... ory.htmThe lake was south of Pella.

[smittysmitty]

Hi Yiannis!I appreciate the links, but your right, not much info there. Thanks anyway :)Cheers!

[wmp]

Smitty - last time I was in Pella there were new
signs to the "harbour" excavations, which would
have been on the shore of Lake Loudias. I
didn't visit them - mea culpa - it was p*****g
down with rain (unlike Ruthaki, who has Helios
on her side, I always visit Vergina/Pella/Mieza in
horrendous weather conditions) - but I hope to
return there in May 2004. Long time to wait, &
probably won't be very relevant in the end (as I
am not), but I'll take a good look at the
excavations & post here. I've been to the
excavated (classical hellenic period) ship sheds
near Messalonghi & they were quite a relevation
- huge walls, immense launching sites, chain
rings still visible - the size was surprising. . .
(even given my colleagues at RHUL & their
Olympias trials) ... I'll be interested to see what
they've been digging up at Pella in the way of
harbour/anchorage/etc... yours,wmp

[smittysmitty]

hi wmp,I'm envious of you being able to visit Pella again, My one and only trip there was some 20 years ago, and was the only time I've been arrested by the law in my life,lol. After having access to the site for some two hours, the caretaker finaly arrived with the police and held us for questioning. In those days, the only fencing existing at the site was along the main road for about 50 meters. Was a facinating experience,(not the arrest but Pella!) and would be wonderfull to go again. I look forward to hearing about your next visit there and whats new.
cheers!