Drakolimni
39°59′38.84″N20°47′12.31″E/ 39.9941222°N 20.7867528°E
Drakolimni(Greek:Δρακολίμνη,"Dragon Lake" ) is the name of several alpine or sub-alpinelakesin northwestern GreeceEpirus region:the ones in mountainTymfiandSmolikasare the most widely known. According to local folktales the lakes used to be inhabited bydragonswho fought each other by throwing pines and rocks and thus created the peculiar landscape and gave their names to the lakes.[1]
Drakolimni of Tymfi
[edit]The first lake resides at an altitude of 2050 m above sea level, on the mountain range ofTymfi,inVikos–Aoös National Park.It is overlooked by the nearby peaks of Ploskos (Greek: Πλόσκος) and Astraka (Greek: Αστράκα). At 5 hours walking distance from the village ofPapingo,the lake is a popular trekking destination in theVikos–Aoös National Park.The lake is inhabited by a species ofalpine newt.[2]
Drakolimni of Smolikas
[edit]The second lake resides on the west slope ofSmolikas,the second highest mountain of Greece. Smolikas lies a few kilometers north of Tymfi, only separated by the gorge of the riverAoos.This lake is also inhabited byalpine newt.
Footnotes
[edit]- ^generic information about the legend available only in Greek as of 2009,http:// zagoroxoria.gr/4th-section/axiotheata/drakolimnes.htmlArchived2020-01-30 at theWayback Machine
- ^for a relevant study of the University of Liege,http:// etho.ulg.ac.be/denoel/site-pindos-en.html