Location: | South of Athens. At the town Vouliagmeni, close to the sea. Follow the road towards Sounio, on the left side. |
Open: |
All year daily until sunset. [2015] |
Fee: |
Adults EUR 8. [2015] |
Classification: | Karst Spring Karst Cave Collapsed Cave |
Light: | n/a |
Dimension: |
Lake: A=0.4 m asl, T=24 °C. Cave: L=3,123 m. |
Guided tours: | |
Photography: | |
Accessibility: | |
Bibliography: | |
Address: |
Vouliagmeni Lake, Vouliagmenis Avenue, Vouliagmeni 16671, Attica, Tel: +30-210-8962237, Tel: +30-210-8962239.
E-mail:
Sales Department: E-mail: |
As far as we know this information was accurate when it was published (see years in brackets), but may have changed since then. Please check rates and details directly with the companies in question if you need more recent info. |
1889 | described by chemistry professor Anastasios Christomanos. |
1992 | operated by Thermal Spa Vouliagmeni - Tourist Enterprises SA. |
The Limni Vouliagmeni (Lake Vouliagmeni) is the entrance to a waterfilled cave system. Located at the coastline the cave has connections into the sea, so the water of this spring is brackish. It was never used for drinking, but with a certain geothermal influence, the warm brackish water was always a popular bathing spot. Today the spring is well developed, with free parking lot, restaurant, electric light at night, public beach, and a so-called private beach. There are numerous events which take place at the lake during the year, like concerts, theater, disco, and so on.
The lake is actually a part of a collapsed cave system. A huge doline, about 230 m long and 120 m wide, with steep walls on three sides, is filled for about one third by a lake. There is no outflow of the spring, as it is connected to the nearby sea and has almost sea level. The surface of the lake is actually 40 cm higher than sea level, but with the reduced specific weight of the brackish water this means simply equilibrium. But water removed from the lake is immediately replenished from the cave system.
The water is extremely pure, obviously a reason why it is such a popular bathing spot. To keep it clean the use of soap and sun protection is not allowed in the water. This also protects the sea anemone Paranemonia vouliagmeniensis, and various species of sponges and molluscs, which live in the lake. The lake is part of Greece's NATURA 2000 network, is classified as a RAMSAR protected wetland, and a Place of Outstanding Natural Beauty, a label given by the Culture Ministry.