Vouliagmeni Lake and Health Spa
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You don't have to go all the way to Edipsos or Lesvos to find healing mineral springs. There are some right in Athens. |
 Landing in Athens was always a thrill for
me back in the days when the airport used to be right in the city. I really loved flying over the islands
as we make that big turn to come in from
the south. For about 30 years I had
noticed what looks like a volcanic crater
filled with the bluest water I have ever
seen, which comes into view outside the
right window about a minute before the
wheels touched ground. It is called Lake
Vouliagmeni and it is a mineral spa that
is reported to have many healing
properties for such ailments as eczema and
dermatological diseases, neuralgia,
headaches, disfiguring arthritis, chronic
gynecological diseases, lumbago, sciatica
and other problems. It was also a mysterious place because popular urban mythology said that some American scuba divers from the US Airbase nearby, disappeared while exploring the undersea caves that fed the lake in the late sixties. Then a couple years ago their bodies were discovered, more than 35 years later!
The Lake is across the street from the
very popular Vouliagmeni beach, one of
the best in the vicinity of
Athens. There are many hotels in the area
including the
5-star luxury resorts Divani
Apollo Palace and the Astir Palace
Hotel. You can find more hotels of all prices and categories at Athens Coast Hotels. There are also plenty of cafes, bars, tavernas and
restaurants nearby. From Athens the lake
is about a half hour drive. If you require
assistance contact George Kokkotos, the
famous taxi driver through his website at
www.greecetravel.com/taxi (We stopped
on the way back from Sounion.) |
More Useful Information
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There are also several buses that stop at
the entrance of the lake and you can find
these at
www.athensguide.com/schedules/localbuses.html |
The lake is about 50 centimeters above sea
level and so it is constantly overflowing
and being replenished by the hot springs
beneath it. The composition of the lake is
brackish and full of such minerals as
potassium, natrium, lithium, ammonium,
calcium, ferrum, chloride, iodine and is
slightly radioactive (the good kind, I
guess). These minerals are known for
giving relief to bone and muscle problems
as well as those listed above. The lake is recognized as a wonder of
nature because of its unique
appearance and the surroundings.
Scientific research and studies have
discovered that millions of years ago,
where the lake is now, there was once
a large cave with a large number of
hot springs. Eventually the high
temperature and moisture of these
springs caused the roof to
collapse.
The lake is surrounded by beach
chairs and umbrellas and there is a
cafe-bar-restaurant too. The lake is
excellent for swimming for therapy as well
as for pleasure and there is equipment for
helping those who find it difficult or
impossible to get into the water on their
own. During the summer Lake Vouliagmeni
offers hotspring baths, hydrotherapy and
physiotherapy. English is spoken as are a
number of other languages. Children are
welcome.
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