Laghi Alimini, Two interconnected lakes near Otranto, Apulia, Italy.

Laghi Alimini is a lake system near Otranto in Apulia consisting of two connected bodies of water with different characteristics. The larger lake opens to the Adriatic Sea, while the smaller one receives only freshwater from natural sources.

The name Alimini derives from the ancient Greek and Byzantine word límnē, meaning lake, swamp or basin. Alimini Grande was formed by continuous erosion by the sea, which still flows into it and keeps its salinity close to that of the sea; Alimini Piccolo, also called Fontanelle, is fed by freshwater springs near Serra di Montevergine. The two are joined by a canal called lu Strittu.

The name Alimini comes from the ancient Greek and Byzantine word límnē, meaning lake, swamp or basin. The two lakes are joined by a canal called lu Strittu. On the coast, the Baia dei Turchi is reached only on foot; legend holds that Turkish warriors landed there during the 15th-century Battle of Otranto.

The two lakes are joined by a canal called lu Strittu, and the northern stretch of Alimini Grande, Palude Traguano, is low, sandy and fed by springs such as Zudrea. The Baia dei Turchi on the coast can be reached only on foot. Alimini Piccolo, also called Fontanelle, has low, flat banks and becomes saltier in summer as its water evaporates.

The area serves as a stopover point for flamingos and other migratory birds traveling between Africa and Europe. Rare swamp orchids and other specialized plants thrive here, making them a special sight when they bloom.