Lake Vouliagmeni

The lake is located in the area of Vouliagmeni, about 21 km from the center of Athens. 

The name of the lake is related to its creation, according to geologists the lake was formed when the roof of a cave collapsed, Vuliaxe translated from Greek sank. The formation of the lake dates back to about 2000 years ago. According to records in ancient times, the area was called "Zoster" (belt). According to legend, Leto, the mother of Apollo and Artemis, was hiding from Hera the wife of Zeus, who persecuted her for getting pregnant by her husband. Staying in this neighborhood, she decided to give birth and took off her Zoster belt. This neighborhood carried the name Zoster for many years until it was replaced by the name Vuliagmeni.

The healing properties of the lake water were first discovered by chemist Anastasios Christomanos in 1889. Since then, the lake has been studied by many scientists. Research has shown that the lake water has healing properties and contains salt, minerals, mainly hydrogen sulfide, but it is also slightly radioactive. The thermal properties of the lake greatly contribute to the treatment of rheumatic, gynecological and skin diseases such as arthritis, joint problems, eczema and headaches. The water temperature in the lake ranges from 22 to 29 degrees Celsius throughout the year. The lake is inhabited by the Garra Rufa fish, these small fish living in the lake clean the feet of the vacationers from dead skin.

According to an ancient legend, mermaids live in the lake and pull young boys under the water.

The territory of the lake is beautifully and tastefully arranged, but the most mysterious thing about this lake is not the healing waters, but the underwater cave. You can notice the entrance to the cave, which is fenced off by forbidding buoys. The underwater cave has been explored to 3,123 meters and is of special interest to scientists. In total, there are 14 different underground tunnels in the area, with a total length of about 4.3 kilometers, one of which is the largest in the world. In the labyrinth of tunnels, even an experienced diver risks losing orientation. Therefore, some divers have gotten lost in the tunnels and died as a result. Eight divers died in the tunnels and the caves were closed in 1995. Since then, scuba diving has only been allowed for scientific purposes.