MUNICIPALITY of POLICHNITOS
Skala Polichnitou

Skala Polichnitou is the seaport of the village of Polichnitos. It is a modern anchorage, the perfect place for strolling and the staring point for excursions all over the island. It has become one of the most important ports on the island since it is constructed in such a way as to accept ships of great tonnage.
Its position just at the entrance of the gulf of Kalloni is concessive because of its commercial use and availability to safe anchoring whenever needed. Fishermen of the area with their fishing cooperative supply the surrounding villages, Mitylene, even Athens with fresh fish, ostracea, scallops and the famous Kalloni sardines. At the harbor there are many fish taverns where visitors can enjoy all these while they relax and watch the sunset over the mountains of Agra.
Further from the port extends the sandy beach, the highway with mar-ram grass trees from either side and the olive yards due south creating a wonderful picture. Here visitors can enjoy swimming and having lunch.
On the right side as you enter the village there is the church of St. John. It is a peculiar Basilica. Its façade with the tall windows creates a great impression. The narthex is supported by columns, which stand on the bases of an old temple. At the door there is a marble fountain and on its arch we can read that it was built in 1834.

Moving towards the beach we can see another tall building whose windows have arches and the chimney is polygonal. It was the mansion of Kalia-Bey, an important man of the area in older times. It is characterized as a preservable monument. Refugee families from Asia Minor in the 1920s found refuge in this mansion.
Restaurants, cafes and pizzerias lay their tables under the mar-ram grass trees. It is a wonderful and cool place for the visitor to relax. In Skala there are many rooms and apartments in newly built constructions to rent.

POLICHNITOS SALT- LAKES
Due north there are the Polichnitos salt lakes. Originally they were natural. They started being used more efficiently during the Turkish occupation. The sea entered by itself into the illuviating valley during wintertime and the water evaporated during the summer leaving behind salt. The salt lakes consist of the machines, the pans (tigania), the heaters (thermastres) and the salt pools (alopigia). The machines and the salt pools are in the middle of the salt lakes. The pans are flat areas, about 1000 square metres each, located on the lakes’ highest points in order to have natural flow. The pans are divided by earthwork and communicate with each other through wooden gates.

The preparation, which starts in May, includes earthwork and steam rolling of the salt pools by a special cylinder and the change of the gates. The cylinder flattens the salt pools and the floor becomes watertight. In June watering begins. The machines pump water from the sea into the pans. Here two things happen: the precipitation of unhealthy salts contained in seawater and the “roasting” of water meaning its partial evaporation. The “roasted” water is transferred from pan to pan in the salt pools and the thickening of salt takes place there. Water evaporates because of the air and the sun and the density of salt increases within salt-oil, as the salt pools’ water is called. Thus, begins the process of precipitation of salt crystals. At times, according to the density of salt in the salt pools, which is measured by a densitometre, salt oil is removed and thrown in ditches and more “roasted water” is poured from the pans. This procedure will be repeated many times until chemical saturation occurs and the thickness of salt reaches 10-15 centimetres. Finally, men with axes enter the salt pools and start extracting salt piling it up in heaps. In the past salt was carried by horse rolling stocks. 
Polichnitos salt is thought to be one of the best salts in Greece. It is as white as snow, tasty and contains a great amount of natural iodine. 

THE BIOTOPE 
The coastal area of Polichnitos is one of the most important hydro biotopes for water birds in Greece. More than 130 species of birds have been recorded in the gulf of Kalloni, some of which live permanently there while others migrate. For biologists, ornithologists and the amateur bird watchers the area is a living museum of natural history in which they can observe and study the existing bird species, their habits and behavior as well as various biological and environmental issues of the area.
Observation and research is possible all year round, especially in spring when there is a massive migration of birds from other countries.
The stagnant valleys of the area, particularly in the pans and heaters of the salt lake, where salt is being dried, become the proper ground for the formation of various organisms (animals and plants), which constitute the basic feed for those birds. 

Several species such as wild geese, wild ducks, wild swans, cranes, halcyons, copper hens, avocets, pelicans, seagulls, terns, dippers, water hens, cormorants, swarm every year in this ideal hydro biotope. A bird that stands out because of its beauty and colors is the pink flamingo (Phoenicopterus rubber, fam. Phoenicopteridae), which has become accustomed to the human presence. Their long pink legs, their height, the pink feathers on their wings, the long neck and the peculiar shape of their head make flamingos the most outstanding and imposing birds of the hydro biotope.