One of my favourite places for the summer is the Lake Vouliagmenh. So peaceful and beautiful... Whenever I go there, I feel like I'm being on holidays even though it is like 5 minutes away from my home. The energy of this place, the idyllic landscape, the calmness and lake’s brackish waters which are continuously replenished both by the sea and the underground thermal springs offer a natural and unique thermal spa experience. A true gem in the heart of the Athenian Riviera.

A few words about the lake

It was formed about 2,000 years ago. It was once a large cavern that collapsed because of an earthquake.

The lake has quite unique environmental conditions: it is supplied with warm seawater (28-35ºCelsius) via an underground channel spreading through a network of flooded caves, so its temperature never drops below 18 °C (usually ranges around 21-24 °C), whereas a freshwater spring reduces its salinity to brackish levels (14.5-18 psu).

The labyrinthine cave

What is really interesting about it, is that it has never been fully explored, as it continues deep inside the mountain. At the edge of the lake starts a labyrinth underwater cave which has been explored at a length of 3,123 metres, while the cave’s end remains impossible to trace. In fact during some underwater expeditions that have been carried out in order to chart it, some amateur divers have drowned by getting lost in the labyrinthine underwater tunnels. Another interesting fact about it is that among the 14 tunnels there is one reaching 800 metres in length, the longest in the world!

The lake's living world

The lake hosts the only existing population of a species of sea anemone called Paranemonia Vouliagmeniensis (it may sound like a joke but this is its real name), as well as species of sponges that portray the perfect balance of the lake’s ecosystem.

You will also find there the known fish Garra Rufa which offer skin exfoliation. Everybody there spends some time with the Doctor Fish. In the beginning the feeling is a bit weird as this tingling sensation may be annoying to some. Personally for the first five minutes, I just cannot stand those little creatures on my feet but after a while I am totally fine.

The Lake Vouliagmeni is included in Greece’s national NATURA 2000 network and as a Site of Outstanding Natural Beauty by the Ministry of Culture.

So this aquatic paradise is one of the reasons I love summer!

Source:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lake_Vouliagmeni
Image:
http://www.greece-is.com/scenic-coastal-pit-stops-along-athens-riviera/