In western Greece, in Aetolia-Acarnania, between Messolonghi and Agrinio, lies Aitoliko, one of the country’s most distinctive settlements. The image was captured by GeoEye-1, a high-resolution Earth observation satellite, and shows a town built almost entirely on a small island within the lagoon.
The dense urban fabric, the two narrow connections to the mainland, and the dominance of the surrounding waters clearly reveal Aitoliko’s close relationship with the lagoon and the way in which it has shaped the town’s development.
At street level, Aitoliko appears to be a distinctive small town. Seen from space, it becomes even clearer just how deeply its identity has been shaped by water.