Lake Cleanup in Greece Unearths Hundreds of Discarded Items, Including WWII Artifacts

An extensive cleanup operation in Lake Pamvotida, Greece, has unearthed a startling array of discarded items, ranging from everyday objects to historical remnants, revealing the extent to which the lake has been used as a dumping ground. Among the hundreds of objects recovered are water heaters, cabinets, trash bins, lighting poles, road signs, motorcycles, bicycles, scooters, chairs, pots, plates, car seats, tires, and even entire boats.

The operation, managed by the Natural Environment and Climate Change Agency (OFYPEDA), also recovered World War II artifacts, including German helmets, mines, and shells. Katerina Hiotelli, head of the protected areas management unit for Epirus, expressed astonishment at the variety of items people had thrown into the lake, noting it was not just common garbage but also countless large objects.

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This is what struck us, the variety of things people had thrown into the lake.

The first cleanup phase in 2024 focused on the urban area from Matsika to the Slaughterhouse. The findings there, both in volume and variety, prompted the continuation of the cleanup around the entire lake. Twelve days ago, a new operation commenced, funded by OFYPEDA's own resources with €600,000. This phase covers four additional areas of the lake, spanning 328 acres, including the stretch from the Slaughterhouse to Anatoli-Katsika promenade, Matsika to Limnopoula, and the Perama, Amfitea, and Drabantova areas, encompassing almost the entire lakeside.

A team of six specialized divers, including two supervisors, is cleaning the lakebed up to 25 meters from the shore. The operation also includes inspecting and documenting the condition of the embankments and checking central pipes leading into the lake for blockages. The divers have also retrieved a large television, a wheelchair, and two boats. Some items, like a mine and two shells, required military assistance. The initiative's slogan, "What sinks, doesn't disappear," underscores the goal of improving the lake's ecological condition and raising public awareness about pollution.

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What sinks, doesn't disappear.