- Concerns over water scarcity escalate among Greek specialists
Currently, there's still some water left, but the news isn't positive: The Mornos Reservoir, which provides fresh water to Athens, the significant Greek city, has decreased by approximately a quarter over the past two years. As per the Athens' national weather service, the cause of this reduction is a scarcity of rain, high temperatures, and mild winters with minimal snow, leading to less meltwater.
In accordance with satellite data, professionals from the weather service have determined that the Mornos Reservoir's surface area has decreased from around 17 square kilometers to roughly 12 square kilometers within two years. The most substantial decline has taken place during the past 12 months.
The water level is now so low that the formerly submerged village of Kallio has resurfaced, as reported by the Open TV station. The level of the Aposelemi Dam on Crete is also dropping, and the level of the artificial Lake Pinios on the Peloponnese peninsula is significantly low.
Drought is also affecting human life and nature negatively in northern Greece. The well-known salt lake Pikrolimni, which previously attracted tourists due to its mud baths, is nearly empty. The Kilkis municipality has appealed to its residents to conserve water as a result.
Emergency Declared
Nonetheless, it isn't just there where a crisis exists: The General Secretariat for Civil Protection has declared a water crisis emergency for 14 municipalities throughout the country, including popular tourist islands such as Crete, Sifnos, Leros, and Kefalonia.
The next rain is highly anticipated. Meteorologists are predicting that the rain will occur in the coming days and that it will rain in various parts of the country. Alternatively, Greeks are hoping for an old saying that a hot, dry summer will be followed by a cold, snowy winter.
The current decreased size of the Mornos Reservoir is largely attributed to the climate, specifically the scarcity of rain, high temperatures, and mild winters. The severe water crisis in Greece has led to an emergency declaration by the General Secretariat for Civil Protection, affecting several municipalities and popular tourist islands.
