Hiking to Steno Gorge at Athamania

Dragon Lake Verliga

One of the most beautiful dragon lakes in Greece is Verliga or Vrigga. The dragon lake Verliga is located above the village of Haliki in the community of Aspropotamos at an altitude of 2,050 meters in a uniquely beautiful location that separates Thessaly from Epirus. It is round (Vrigga in Vlach means circle) and occupies an area of about 10 acres and is formed by ten serpentine waterways. The water is lost in a pipette to come to the surface just below which is the beginning of the Acheloos river. In spring the colors in Verliga are unique with yellow and purple flowers along with the green that covers all surfaces and of course the snow that stays for several months.

According to the legend, a dragon in the form of a snake came out of the rocks of the mountain with a momentum, which, drawing a spinning orbit, sank to the ground, where the waters leave to form Aspropotamos and then Acheloos. To the north of the lake rises Tsoukarela at 2,295 meters which is the highest peak of Lakmos and to the south the rocks of the peak Megas Trapos at 2,240 meters.

The meadows around Verliga are flooded with flowers verliga in mid-summer. The intense yellow color of the buttercups is mixed with the blue color of the crocuses of the species Crocus veluchensis that spring with the melting of the ice. The variety of plants continues with many and rare species, although it will be difficult to discover them, not so much because they are hard to find, but because you will not take your eyes off the landscape.

The alpine birdlife is just as rich, especially when it comes to predators. There are still a few vultures living in the area, but also golden eagles, cross eagles, snakes, hawks and peregrines. Large flocks of yellow-tailed deer “patrol” the area, while the bird fauna is complemented by many rare micro-birds that visit the alps when the ice melts.

The reptile fauna includes one of the rarest snakes in Greece, the meadow viper (Vipera ursinii) which prefers to live on bare stones, over 1,800 meters. Other species are the alpine newt, the salamander, the yellow mink, the gray frog, the toad, the green lizard and the common viper.

Hiking to Steno Gorge at Athamania

There you will find three wonderful waterfalls from the sources of Kakarditsa and Kriakoura.
The geological formations from the sedimentary rocks left and right will make you wonder where you are. There are also natural swimming pools for the more adventurous. The best time to cross it is between July and August.
Be careful if you visit! When it rains at altitude, water comes down into the gorge. It is also necessary if you visit it to wear a helmet.

Continue the road where after a few kilometers you will reach Kastania. Comfortable road that can be done by anyone. A little care is needed because you can find animals on the road. We found two, so be careful! From Kastania and after the altitude it rises and the points start with the view either to the peaks on your left, or to the plain.

A spot with heavy rocks is one of the best for the view to the plain. If you try to find it on street view of google maps it does not exist! That’s why we show it to you. The wire nets are there and hold the many rocks that fall slowly. Next of this spot is the “neck” of the route where you can stop. From there, the landscape of Aspropotamos begins with the road moving in dense vegetation next to the river. We did this route in the fall, others prefer the colors of spring. Whatever season you decide to make it has its own uniquen

The road continues to Milia Polythea and Tzourtzia (Agia Paraskevi) where in Tzourtzia you will find Alekos beach. Known to everyone in the area since in summer it gathers a large number of visitors from the surrounding villages who swim in the river!

 


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