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Monday 25 August 2008

Kefalonia Part 4....

Continuing the bus tour we left Fiskardo and travelled south to the district of Sami to visit Melissani Lake.








Melissani Lake or 'Cave of the Nymphs' is located at Karavomlos, just 2km from the town of Sami. It is a unique cave structure, with a lake whose waters reach a depth of 39 meteres. To reach the cave one has to descend a sloping ramp down to the boats waiting on the lake. The cave is 160m long and 40m wide. Its stalactites date back 16,000 to 20,000 years in age. In the centre of the lake, where the covered section begins, there is a small island 30m in length on the surface of which are two small elevatioins, 8m and 9m in height.






A narrow channel between this little island and the walls of the lake leads to the rest of the cave. We were expertely ferried through the channel, 12 to a rowing boat, by one of the four boatmen who work at the lake.










Melissani has been the site of several excavations which have brought to light a number of finds, most of them from the 3rd and 4th centrues BC, and attesting to a cult of the god Pan. A number of female figures have also been found the famous Nymphs. The visitor can tour the lake on a boat and admire the wonderful colours to be seen in the water constantly changing as the sunlight falls on it ghrough the apeture in the roof above.





The lake is fed from the sea but by the time the water reaches the lake it has lost 90% of its salinity, this almost clear water is fed back into the sea. It was cool on the lake but not cold, though one could certainly feel the change in temperature ascending to the exit.

Melissini Lake is a beautiful natural phenomenon, well worth a visit if you ever find yourself in Kefalonia.

Tune in for Kefalonia Part 5 and our visit to Drogorati Cave.

29 comments:

Empress Bee (of the high sea) said...

wow, what an amazing place!!

smiles, bee
xoxoxoxoxoxoxox

Linda said...

If I ever get to Kefalonia you can bet I'll go check this out but sadly, I think the only way I'm going to get there is via your blog - which is still a great way to go!

Anonymous said...

It looks beautiful! I've never been to Kefalonia, but I have been to Zakynthos. We swam in a cave there, it wasn't as big as this one, but it was still a really unique experience. The light that came in made the bottom seem white and the water seem purple.

buffalodick said...

That sounded very interesting! Caves have always been something I buy the ticket for when near one...

Queenie said...

You managed to do so much in two weeks, its great to see you doing all this. Speak later.

Akelamalu said...

It was indeed Bee!

You never know Linda you may get there one day.

Oh Zakynthos is beautiful wontletlifedefineme, we went there a few years ago. Thanks for stopping by.

It was really interesting and quite awesome Buff :)

Oh you know us Queenie we like to make the most of a holiday! ((wink))

maryt/theteach said...

Akalamalu, if you go to Capri they ferry you through a cave too. And the water is a gorgeous blue too! :)

RiverPoet said...

Such beautiful photos! Thanks for sharing all of these, Akela - Peace - D

Sandi McBride said...

What a perfectly beautiful setting...the cave is so glorious. Lovely photos as well...glad you enjoyed your vacation...thanks for sharing!
hugs
Sandi

Travis Cody said...

Lovely spot!

Were you on a tour of the area, or did you discover these things to do on your own?

Ron said...

AWESOME tour Akelamalu!

It's so funny, because as I was scrolling down the page, while looking at these wonderful photos and reading your words, I actually kept FEELING to myself, the COOLNESS of the temperature that you mentioned at the finale of the post!

It just LOOKED and FELT cool!

Once again, thank you for sharing your travels with us, dear lady.

Thoroughly enjoying this!

Catch said...

such colorful and beautiful pics!!!! They look like postcards!

Flowerpot said...

What wonderful pics, AK. I am most envious. Still at least we saw teh sun for a while yesterday! About 5 minutes!!

cheshire wife said...

Stunning photographs. They make me want to go back to Greece which I hope we will do one day. But for now, until we have finished renovating our cottage we are having more modest holidays.

Akelamalu said...

MWM has been to Capri and told me about the cave there Teach he said it's beautiful!

I'm pleased you enjoyed them Riverpoet :)

Yes Sandi it was very beautiful. :)

We were on a bus tour of the island Trav, it took all day but we saw so much we didn't notice the time. :)

The coolness of the cave was very welcome after the heat up above Ron, you would have wanted to stay in there!

Thanks Catch, we were really pleased with how the photos turned out from our little digital Olympus camera.

You only got the sun for 10 mins? It was fine and warm here for much of the day Flowerpot - not so today though :( So glad you enjoyed our photos.

Ah renovating takes a while doesn't it Cheshire Wife? You'll go back to Greece sometime I'm sure! Thanks for visiting. :)

Anonymous said...

ake, what a beautiful paradise!!!

G-Man said...

Cave of the Nymphs..
Cave of Ake....Same thing!

Barb said...

What a beautiful and magical place!

Akelamalu said...

Paradise indeed Acey :)

Oh g-man you'll have me blushing! ;)

Yes it was Skittles :)

Julia Phillips Smith said...

I've always had a fascination with caves - thanks for posting these photos. I love the fourth one of the rowboats on the cave lake. So funky!

Anonymous said...

OMG, those photos are amazing!
I wanna go!!!

Akelamalu said...

If you like caaves Julia wait for the next instalment!

Glad you liked them CWM. :)

MarmiteToasty said...

WOW..... what a fantastic place, you should of jumped overboard and had a swim around lol...

x

Akelamalu said...

There were things 'lurking' down there Marmie!

CG said...

I've so enjoyed your holiday diaries. The closest I've got to a holiday in the sun this year!!

storyteller said...

I love the photos in part 4 of Kefalonia … and visiting the caverns looks like an adventure of a lifetime!
Hugs and blessings,

Akelamalu said...

I'm so pleased you've enjoyed the travelog CG, just one more left now.

Yes the cave lake was an adventure Storyteller, wait until you see the Drogarati Cave though!

Anonymous said...

Wow, what an amazing place. Very mysterious.

Akelamalu said...

Mysterious it was, Citizen but not eerie at all, just beautiful. :)