Speleologists have discovered an underground lake beneath the Kifisos River in Athens. This is the third lake found in the area, following two previous discoveries, with this one notable for also containing fish.
Members of “Geomythiki,” an independent research and exploration team, discovered the third and largest lake at the point where the Kifisos riverbed meets the Eschatia stream, near the western suburb of Peristeri, in Athens.
In a video the team posted on YouTube, the team members explained that the lake was formed due to the destruction of the riverbed in the area, which has a width of five centimeters and contains fish.
The first of the lakes was discovered in 2021 by the same team, while in 2023 they discovered the second lake beneath the largest river of Attica. They entered from the area of Renti, near Piraeus and walked for 3.5 kilometers under the National Road.
How the third lake was discovered
In an interview with “Kathmerini,” Dimitris Theodosopoulos says that the team’s intention was to continue exploring the area of the Kifisos river and check the situation at its middle section, which they hadn’t previously been able to reach. He added that the underground route is about six kilometers long, without any entry points in the middle.
“We were forced to enter through the Eschatia stream entry point. We walked the six kilometers and reached the point where the stream meets Kifisos river. 200 meters further south, we encountered the third lake, the biggest of the three.”
The lake, Theodosopoulos estimates, is about one to two meters deep and runs along 50 to 60 meters, therefore, he adds, they were unable to cross it. At the same time, Theodosopoulos raised concerns about the stability of the area.
“I think it’s very worrying that the foundations of the side walls have been dug for about one to two meters. I don’t know how deep the foundations are but they should be checked,” he noted.
Team members further added that the issue of stability is very concerning. “In our opinion, the water needs to be pumped out and an assessment of the damage should be done by engineers. The underground pipe in this third lake is in the worst condition we have seen.”
Lake Vouliagmeni, Athens’ most famed lake surrounded by myths and mysteries
While the discovery of a third, underground lake beneath the Kifisos river in Athens has been making headlines in Greece, Lake Vouliagmeni remains the most famous lake in the Greek capital.
Lake Vouliagmeni in the south of Athens was formed some two thousand years ago when a large cavern collapsed, forming two lagoons connected to a labyrinthine network of flooded caves. Named after the Greek word for “sunken,” the lake also lends its name to the municipality built on the verdant rock under which the caves extend.
Its idyllic landscape and waters that are warm throughout the year have established Lake Vouliagmeni as a popular beach for swimmers and sunbathers on the Athens Riviera.
The lake is also notable for the legends and myths surrounding its mysterious, massive underwater cave system. The system begins from a slot in the rock far from the beach and extends deep into the mountain in what is believed to be the largest continuous tunnel in Europe.
Some of the tales about the lake speak of hidden Nazi gold in the caves. There are also legends of water fairies that have lured a number of amateur divers to the tunnels’ depths and, allegedly, to their deaths.
Cave diving expeditions in recent years have managed to chart the cave’s two main tunnels up to 120 meters under the surface. However, it has not yet been fully explored, as it has been impossible to determine by sonar detection where the tunnels might end.
See all the latest news from Greece and the world at Greekreporter.com. Contact our newsroom to report an update or send your story, photos and videos. Follow GR on Google News and subscribe here to our daily email!
