Greece isn't short on natural beauty. In fact, it seems as if everywhere you turn, there are perfectly golden half-moon beaches, glittering bays of bluer than blue water, dramatic and breathtaking rock formations. Yet, despite this wealth of beauty, there is one attraction that still stands out as especially, incredibly lovely: Melissani Lake in Kefalonia.
Melissani Lake is an underground lake, housed in a cave by the same name on the Greek island of Kefalonia island. Located not far from Karavomilo, it is a lacustrine cave of unique beauty that measures 3.5km in length, 40m in width and 36m in height. It is a geological phenomenon, created by a mechanical and chemical process called karstikopoiisi (dissolution of rocks), during which water enters calcareous rocks, erodes them and creates hollows.
Melissani Lake is an underground lake, housed in a cave by the same name on the Greek island of Kefalonia island. Located not far from Karavomilo, it is a lacustrine cave of unique beauty that measures 3.5km in length, 40m in width and 36m in height. It is a geological phenomenon, created by a mechanical and chemical process called karstikopoiisi (dissolution of rocks), during which water enters calcareous rocks, erodes them and creates hollows.
Composed of two big halls and an island in the middle, one of the halls has an opening to the surface, which lets the light in and creates a glittering light show on the water that makes it clear enough to seem as though boats are floating on air.
Discovered in 1951 by speleontologist Giannis Petrochilos, it is now a popular tourist attraction and can be readily visited. Pictures really do not do the sight justice and it really needs to be seen in order to be truly understood and appreciated fully. You can take the steps down into the cave to see it but we recommend you take the boat tours to get the fullest and best experience of the lake. To be sure, it is one of the most extraordinary things you might ever hope to see and really is a must for anyone visiting Kefalonia.
Discovered in 1951 by speleontologist Giannis Petrochilos, it is now a popular tourist attraction and can be readily visited. Pictures really do not do the sight justice and it really needs to be seen in order to be truly understood and appreciated fully. You can take the steps down into the cave to see it but we recommend you take the boat tours to get the fullest and best experience of the lake. To be sure, it is one of the most extraordinary things you might ever hope to see and really is a must for anyone visiting Kefalonia.
Just find a vacation rental in the Ionian Islands and begin exploring all of the natural and manmade gems that the islands have to offer.
Photo credits
Picture 1: Marcus Ward / CC BY-ND 2.0
Picture 1: Marcus Ward / CC BY-ND 2.0
