Melissani Cave Lake

Lake Melissani is one of the most famous places on the island of Kefalonia. It is located 3 km from the port of Sami and 28 km from the town of Argostoli. The lake is 160 meters long and 40 meters wide, and its depth reaches 39 meters. In the middle of the lake there is an island 30 meters long, on the surface of which there are two small hills 8 and 9 meters high. The lake cave was discovered in 1951 by speleologist Yannis Petrochilos. In 1963, Austrian geologists confirmed that the water of the cave is mixed underground with seawater from Argostoli shells and rainwater. Today, the cave can be visited through an artificial entrance that leads to its main hall through an underground tunnel. The tour is conducted by boat around the lake. The open part of the main hall allows sunlight to penetrate the cave and give the lake its unique colors, especially at midday. The lake gets its name from the legend of the nymph Melissani, who committed suicide here because the god Pan refused her. Another legend says that Melissanti, a shepherdess, fell into the lake when she was chasing one of her sheep.