Vouliagmeni Lake | Athens

Lake Vouliagmeni is a natural brackish lake with healing properties located in Vouliagmeni, Athens. Its waters come from 50 to 100 meters deep and have a temperature of 22 ° C to 29 ° C, indicating that at some depth it communicates with the Aegean volcanic arc. The lake is also powered by a freshwater source at a depth of 17 meters. The lake ends with an underground cave that communicates with the sea through various arcades. The lake is located on the southern tip of Ymittos, near the sea. It lies in an ellipsoidal cavity 260 meters long and 145 meters wide. The lake is half a meter higher than the sea level. It is part of the Natura 2000 sites. The lake was created when part of the roof of a large underground cave collapsed some 2,000 years ago due to erosion and tectonic movements, and therefore there are no references to antiquity, not even Pausanias. The cave is located in the limestone rocks of the area. The explored length of the cave is 3,123 meters. There are 14 tunnels in the cave, and a large undersea stalagmite has been found. The bottom of the lake consists of a muddy substrate rich in sulfur compounds. The lake waters have an increased content of minerals and trace elements, such as potassium, sodium, lithium, ammonium, calcium, iron, chlorine and iodine. Lake water is indicated for rheumatic diseases, sports injuries, nervous system disorders, skin diseases and gynecological diseases. Swimming at the lake is a fee and there is a restaurant-bar at the lake.