What we perceive today as one solid island was up until recently a collection of smaller pieces of land separated by water. There were numerous bays along the coast that enabled small ships and boats to lay anchor almost next to the houses. There were cobblestone streets and wooden bridges that facilitated the movement of people. The land was so low that it tended to flood in the wintertime, turning Aitoliko into a small Venice. In the late 1960s the government proceeded with extensive embankment projects that altered the island’s geography and character. The network of bays and channels on the north coast became a solid piece of flat land, while a beach was added to protect the road from the waves.