The 7 wonders of nature in Epirus
Epirus with its lakes, gorges, clean rivers and waterfalls is one of the most beautiful places in Greece. We have listed 7 of its most amazing places that you can visit and that remind you of a fairy tale.
The canyon of Vikos
According to a Guinness report, it is the deepest gorge in the world (even if that may not be true). To admire its beauties, you can find the Oxia peak, where you can see the whole gorge with such a depth that you might get dizzy. You can find this place by walking through the magnificent Petrino (i.e. stone) forest.
Voidomatis River
Voidomatis is the river that crosses the gorge of Vikos, and one of the first things you might hear about it is that it is probably the cleanest river in Europe. The water is so clean that studies show that you can drink it. You can enjoy the river by walking along its banks, and after the spring you can even do some water sports like rafting.
Valia Kalnta Valley
It is known as the National Park of Pindos and its name means "The warm valley". It connects Epirus with Greek Macedonia and consists of 69,000 hectares of black pine and golden-red beech. Its best parts are the forest of Red Pines with the panoramic view of the valley, Arkoudorema (i.e. the Brook of the Bear) with the crystal clear water in the heart of the forest, which the brown bears often visit, and the village of Vovousa, located on the bank of Aoos, which can be reached by a stone bridge from the 18th century.
The waterfall of Tzoumerka
The beautiful village "Waterfall", which is located nearby, is named after it. The waterfall of Tzoumerka has a height of 110 m. and you can enjoy some moments of relaxation by walking in the peaceful area around it.
Acherontas River
The river Acherontas, which in ancient Greek mythology was considered the gateway to the underworld, is a destination for thousands of tourists every year. You can walk along almost its entire length and see the large white rocks and its many small waterfalls between the plane trees that line its banks.
The caves of Perama and Anemotrypa
The cave of Perama is one of the most famous in Greece and is located a few kilometers outside the city of Ioannina. It is expected to last almost 1.5 million(!) years and it is safe to enter it for 1.5 km. It has the most impressive stalactites and stalagmites you have ever seen.
The Anemotrypa Cave is not as famous as Perama and is near Pramanta, where one of the largest inland lakes in Greece is located. The accessible part of the cave is 250 m long and also has impressive formations of stalactites and stalagmites.
Lake Drakolimni
The Drakolimni Lake, i.e. the Dragon Lake, is located at the highest points of the Pindos Mountains. The famous Drakolimni lies at 2497 m. altitude on Mount Tymfi, but there are 4 other "dragon" lakes, which are smaller and located in the mountains Smolikas, Grammos, Mavrovouni and Peristeri.