At the Salt Marshes: Salt Marshes of Lefkimmi     The walker’s orientation and safety is solely their responsibility. The present report, the relevant tracks (gpx) and the rest of the informational material are just supplementary. The proper equipment is necessary, depending on the weather conditions and the nature of the route.     Route’s type: mixed Route’s duration: 50 minutes Route’s length: 3,300 m Level of difficulty: easy Suggested season: All seasons, if weather conditions permit it. Avoid midday in the summer because there are no shady places along a big part of the route.     The route: The water level is likely to require a variation of the route. The route is indicative and the walker can adapt it according to his or her own opinion. The route starts at the Environmental Education Centre and heads northeast, parallel to the beach along a clearly defined but unmarked path. At the end of the path we turn around and return to the chapel by the same route and turn southeast into the lake by the landscaped paths provided. We reach the opposite side and after moving north-northeast parallel to the salt marshes, we return by the same route and cross the salt marshes by another, more westerly, corridor Suggested season: all seasons, weather permitting. Due to the lack of shade and the nature of the area, it is advisable to avoid midday hours during the summer.   On the island of Corfu there are: Citizen Service Centres in the settlements (from north to south): Sidari, Acharavi, Kassiopi, Ipsos, Paleokastritsa, Corfu Town, Achilleion, Moraitika, Argyrades and Lefkimmi. Police stations in the settlements (from north to south): Karousades, Paleokastritsa, Corfu Town and Lefkimmi. Numerous private clinics, medical centres and pharmacies, as well as public health structures exist (from north to south): the Avliotes Regional Medical Centre, the Acharavi Regional Medical Centre, the Agios Athanasios Health Centre, the Hospital and Emergency Centre in Corfu Town, and the Lefkimmi Health Centre.   Salt Marshes The salt marshes of Lefkimmi consists of a peninsula of about 2000 acres in southern Corfu, north of the town of Lefkimmi, with which it borders. They are one of the island's most important wetlands. This area has been used as salt marshes since the time of the Angevins (13th-14th century). In the 16th century there were already 80 salt pans and the Venetian salt storehouses and the accompanying areas were built, the administration building, the weighing house, the threshing floor - draining room, where the workers used to 'pile up' the salt, the engine room - pumping station and the outpost. From 1928-1933 they temporarily ceased to operate. In 1988 salt was produced for the last time. In 1993 they were handed over to the Municipality of Lefkimmia. Salt was regarded as 'white gold' during the period when the salt marshes were in their peak. The profits from the Corfiot salt were so much that it was used as a barter product to meet the needs of the Corfiot market in wheat, but also to provide resources for fortification and other projects. Today, the premises of the old Venetian warehouses, which were restored in 1999 by the municipality of Lefkimmia, house the Corfu Environmental Education Centre. Its establishment and operation is recorded since 2009 and until today it is continuously enriched, from NSRF funds, with a modern supervisory, audiovisual and scientific equipment. Here we will also find the picturesque chapel of Agios Ioannis Kolympistis. The Lefkimmi Salt Marshes belong to the Natura 2000 network as a Special Protection Area for birds. More than 180 species of birds have been recorded in the area. Several of them are endangered or have a protection status. Some typical species are Barbary and Chestnut-crowned Gulls in winter, Reed-billed Cormorants, Seaside Warblers and Nankeen Gulls in summer and Dappled Warblers and Nankeen Warblers in spring. Lefkimmi It is the second largest settlement of Corfu, 40 km from Corfu Town, in the southern part of the island. It is surrounded by olive trees and vineyards. Lefkimmi is particularly picturesque, with narrow streets, tall houses, beautiful squares and churches. In its narrow streets there are old mansions, old and modern houses. It is worth visiting the churches "Agii Theodoroi" and "Agios Arsenios", which are famous for their architecture. The port of Lefkimmi offers daily ferry services to and from Igoumenitsa. The river of Lefkimmi crosses the settlement and reaches the sea. Next to the river there are restaurants and cafes. A daring rescue operation occurred in Lefkimmi during World War II, when a Lancaster crashed. Locals rescued the crew, hid the pilots and then led them to Kondokali, where they were picked up by a British submarine.