Clean-up reveals Ioannina lake’s secrets

Reminders of war such as bomb shells, an Ottoman grenade and German helmets from World War II, as well as more everyday items like motorbikes, batteries, mobile phones, bicycles and even an old cash register, are among the haul that have emerged from the depths of Lake Pamvotida in Ioannina, the bed of which is being cleaned for the very first time.

The clean-up of the lake bed, which is being funded by the Natural Environment and Climate Change Agency, also yielded a cauldron for making tsipouro, a canoe as well as a number of vases that have been handed over to the local ephorate of antiquities.

All of the recovered objects have been exhibited outdoors near the lake so that local residents can see what the clean-up has brought to light.

“Truth be told, the volume and great variety of finds from the underwater clean-up is beyond our expectations,” the head of Epirus Protected Areas Management Unit, Katerina Hiotelli, said.

The clean-up, which will continue until 20 December, involves professional divers with experience in high-altitude diving as the lake is situated approximately 470 meters above sea level.

On Thursday, a jeep, possibly a military one, was found embedded in the lake and was retrieved by crane.

Hiotelli said that claims that an Italian fighter plane lies at the bottom of Pamvotida are being investigated.