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The Diros Cave, renowned as the most beautiful lake cave in the world

About 5 miles south of Areopolis are the famous Diros Caves. They are part of an underground river , and the 5,000 meters that have been exposed are fascinating. From the entrance, skillful, whistling gondoliers steer small boats through narrow passageways, around beautiful formations of stalagmites and stalactites, their colors created by rain water penetrating the calcium carbonate in the rock. The caves have served as places of worship in Paleolithic and Neolithic times; they are thought by many to be connected to the Underworld.

The caves of Diros: Glyphada (or Vlyhada) Alepotripa and Kataphygi are situated south of Aeropoli.

Glyphada or Vlyhada: Its temperature fluctuates from 16°C to 20°C. The temperature of the water is around 12°C. Passages of about 5000m have been explored while its total extent is 33.400sq.rn. The existence of the cave has been known since 1900 and in 1949 it was explored by John Petrochilos. It is regarded as one of the most beautiful lake caves in the world. In its interior fossil animals have been discovered that existed 2 million years ago.

Alepotripa: It is situated 200m. east of Glyphada and was discovered in 1958. It was explored by Mr. and Mrs. Petrochilos. The finds provide evidence of life in the cave 6.000 years ago many of which are exhibited in the "Stone Age Museum" of Diros situated at the entrance of the cave. The extent of the cave is 6.500sq.m., 600sq.m. of which consist of land and the rest is covered by the water of an underground river. The average temperature of the cave is 19°C and of the water 18°C.

Kataphygi: It is located 500m on the left side of the road that leads to the former two caves. It has an area of 2.700sq.m. whereas the length of its passages is 700m.