Cave lake Melissani (Melissani) in Greece: photo, description

We have all heard fantastic stories about the mythical heroes of ancient Greece, who, like a thick fog, envelop the entire history of this place where civilization was born. Many of us were even so intrigued by the adventures of Hercules or suffering that they fell to the lot of the brave Theseus, that they went straight into the study of the history of the ancient state. Before the eyes of everyone who has even half-heard of Greece, colorful pictures depicting the numerous gods of Olympus are forever frozen. Indeed, the Greeks cannot be reproached for the lack of imagination.

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Where is

Greece is rich not only in its myths, culture and traditions. The picturesque places that this cradle of civilization is famous for deserve no less attention. Numerous islands, which have long belonged to Greece, have become not only world-famous resort areas, but still conceal a lot of mysterious and amazing things. We invite you to go with us to the eastern part of the Greek island of Kefalonia, where before our eyes, like a piece of paradise, the beauties of the Melissania cave and the lake of the same name are spread, the surface of which is hidden under the thickness of rocks.

Underworld

Even if you are a skeptic and never believed that Greek myths are based on real events, when you first look at the marvelous cave formation, you will undoubtedly get the impression that you found yourself on the threshold of something truly mysterious. A huge cave involuntarily makes you think that you are on the threshold of the doors to the underground kingdom of Hades, and the underground lake is nothing more than the river Lethe, famous for many of the myths.

This unique natural place is located on the already mentioned island of Kefalonia, which is part of the Ionian Islands. If desired, finding a cave with an underground lake is not at all difficult, because thousands of tourists flock here who want to get in touch with a country rich in every sense.

Reality and myths about Melissani

If you believe the experts in the field of geology, then an unusual place was formed as a result of a long natural process, as a result of which the rocks gradually dissolved, and many depressions were formed in place of the once ordinary mountain. The waters flowing to the base of the cave form a lake of incredible beauty, which, according to the most conservative estimates, is more than 20 thousand years old today.

It is at this point in the guide's story that the last doubts about the mystery of the cave disappear. With amazing greed, tourists literally “eat” with their eyes inch by inch of the sloping walls of the cave and peer into the turquoise expanse of the lake with the hope of seeing something that others could not.

If there is an entrance to the other world or a parallel reality on the planet, then there is no better place to place such a portal than the Melissani cave.

The ancient Greeks, who were always looking for a “secret” meaning in everything, called the turquoise lake nothing more than “the abode of nymphs”. I think you should not dwell on these extraordinarily beautiful representatives of the weaker sex from Greek mythology. But the very fact that the lake was awarded such a title speaks volumes.

How the lake was formed

But back to the history of the formation of the cave and the lake. Initially, there was a full-fledged cave here, the dome of which collapsed only 4 thousand years ago. And now the blue of the boundless sky stretches over the heads of numerous tourists. The rays of the sun, which have gained access to the base of the cave, not only warm the waters of the Melissani cave lake, but also give them a gentle turquoise hue.

The crystal clear water makes a special impression, in which you can see even the smallest details of the lake bottom. When you sail in a boat on the lake, it seems that it is floating through the air. The turquoise expanse only occasionally betrays its presence when the oars touch its surface.

divine origin

This place would not be Greek if there was no legend about it. The ancient Greeks believed that the cave represented some kind of divine principle. Here, far from prying eyes, in the very depths of the Melissani cave, numerous ceremonies took place. The first to discover a place for the future sanctuary of the ancient Greeks was a local shepherd named Giannis Petrohelios, who accidentally wandered into these parts.

It was after his enthusiastic story that the cave was chosen as a place for religious sacraments. This is indicated by archaeological finds, among which was found a figurine of the Greek god Pan, who has long been considered the patron of nature and shepherds. Numerous figurines of nymphs and an unusual drawing of a woman were also found here. All these finds and many other items found in the cave can be seen in the museum of the city of Argostoli, which is the capital of the island.

According to local legend, the cave, along with the lake, was formed as a result of an unhappy love between a nymph named Melissani and the Greek god Pan. There are several interpretations of the story, but the essence is the same – love was unhappy, and the nymph suffered from the amorous nature of Pan. The cave became her refuge, where she shed tears for days. It was from the tears of Melissani that the turquoise lake was formed. Indeed, the waters of an underground reservoir taste very similar to human tears. Everyone can verify this by scooping up a little transparent liquid in the palm of your hand.

From here came the modern belief, according to which, if lovers, sailing on a boat on the lake, wash each other with water, then they will live a long and happy life. The lake will help those who are unlucky in love. You just need to scoop up water and wash. And soon the man will meet his destiny.

Uniqueness in every inch

If you do not take into account the stories that go around about this place, and also do not be interested in the origin of the cave and the lake, you can definitely see that the attraction is unique. Even the geology of the cave is special. So, fresh and sea water is mixed in the lake, which rises into the cave from a huge depth of 30 meters! In addition, the water, having made a huge loop through the lake, returns to the sea. If you believe the local guides, then each drop of sea water, before dissolving in the lake, travels about 13 km!

Approaching the lake, you will have to go down the stairs specially equipped for numerous tourists. On the shore of Melissani you will be offered to take a boat ride on the turquoise surface. Do not miss this chance by any means! Unforgettable impressions from the marvelous landscapes of the underworld, sensations from the proximity of the other world await you. The picture is completed by cheerful gondoliers who will present you and your companions with marvelous songs to the Greek motive. In their society, time seems to freeze, and the whole world is reduced to the size of this cave.

A leisurely walk will give you the opportunity to carefully study the cave with its many tunnels, as well as capture this exciting and at the same time bewitching moment on film forever.

It is believed that you can appreciate the beauty of Melissani at noon. It was then that the rays of the sun penetrating past the vaults of the cave reveal all the wondrous beauty of this place. It is at noon that the level of beauty and spectacle inside the cave reaches its peak. At first sight you fall in love with the cave, the entrance to which is generously decorated with greenery, and its walls are covered with numerous stalagmites and stalactites.

If you spend the whole day on the lake, you will notice that the water in it changes color. That lake buoys with emerald hues, like a rare emerald, then it appears before tourists in a dress of a heavenly shade, then it scares away visitors with dark colors, like the ocean.

The depth in the lake is quite decent and in some places reaches 15 meters. Similar figures will be shown to you by a thermometer dipped into water. Despite this, the sun's rays, penetrating deep, allow you to perfectly see all the local inhabitants, among which there are eels, and mullet, and even small sea snakes. They are quite comfortable in cool water, the temperature of which rarely exceeds 15 degrees.

So it turns out that once visiting, albeit for a short time, this amazing place, almost everyone strives to get here again and again, periodically holding back their tourist impulse with vivid memories. Welcome to Greece, the land of olives and wondrous culture, a land full of intrigue and truly divine places!