An underwater cleanup of Lake Pamvotida in northwestern Greece has uncovered new objects from the lakebed, including two shells dating from World War II, highlighting the amount of waste and other materials that have remained submerged for decades.
The operation has been underway since the beginning of the summer and is being carried out by the Natural Environment and Climate Change Agency (NECCA) as part of efforts to protect and restore Lake Pamvotida.
The current work is the second phase of a broader underwater cleanup program. The first phase took place along the lakeside waterfront in 2024, when large quantities of solid waste were removed and the need for continued and expanded cleanup efforts became apparent.
Cleanup expands to four more areas
During the latest phase, the cleanup has been extended to four additional areas where significant accumulations of waste have been identified.
The operation will cover approximately 328,250 square meters of the lakebed. Alongside the removal of waste, teams are inspecting and recording the condition of the lake’s retaining structures and checking the main pipelines that discharge into the lake.
Hundreds of objects have already been recovered, including large metal structures, motorcycles, bicycles, boats, vehicle and agricultural machinery tires, garbage bins, household appliances and numerous other items that had remained on the bottom of Lake Pamvotida for years.
The systematic recording of the objects is also providing information about the pressures affecting the lake’s ecosystem and is intended to help authorities plan future protection and management measures.
WWII shells among discoveries
The discovery of the two World War II shells is among the latest findings from the ongoing operation.
The recovered objects illustrate the extent of the accumulation of waste and other materials beneath the lake’s surface and provide a record of items that have remained underwater for decades.
NECCA is carrying out the project under the slogan “What sinks does not disappear,” emphasizing that waste discarded into the lake remains part of the environment even after it is no longer visible.
Beyond removing waste and improving the lake’s ecological condition, the agency aims to highlight the importance of active public participation in protecting one of Greece’s most important wetlands.
The underwater cleanup is expected to be completed by the end of the year.
