Close to the town of Sami, on the eastern side of Kefalonia, there is the impressive Lake Cave Melissani. This underground lake was discovered in the 1950s, when the roof collapsed after an earthquake. This is when scientists discovered a fantastic cave with stalactites and stalagmites, filled in with both fresh and sea water. According to geologists, the sea water of Mellisani Cave comes from the region of Argostoli.
Just outside Argostoli, the capital of Kefalonia, in the region called Katavothres, the sea water enters an underground path, crosses all the island of Kefalonia, mixes with the fresh water of Melissani and is finally poured again into the sea at the village of Karavomylos, few meters from the cave lake.
Apart from a rare geological phenomenon, Melissani is also a place with archaeological interest. According to mythology, it got its name from the nymph Melissani who killed herself there for her desperate love for god Pan. This is why the ancient Greeks believed that this cave was a residence of nymphs and archaeologists found many statues and offerings to the nymphs in the bottom of the lake.
Today, although the lake cave has two rooms, only one of them is open to visitors. Boat rides take place inside the lake, touring people to fantastic stalactites and stalagmites. Even few plants have grown in the lake. Occasionally, and upon special license by the local municipality, scuba diving is organized in Melissani.
A big thank you to Antonis Nikolopoulos from Photography Holidays for the stunning photo
Close to the village of Karavomylos, just outside Sami town in Kefalonia.
