Greece · Crete

Aposelemis Reservoir

Directions

Τεχνητή λίμνη Αποσελέμη

The Aposelemis reservoir is an artificial lake behind an earth dam, about 32 km south-east of Heraklion, between the villages of Potamies and Avdou. It is the largest water project in Crete, supplying drinking water to Heraklion, Agios Nikolaos and other communities on the north coast.

How it formed

The Aposelemis, one of the larger rivers of Crete, fills the lake, with water brought from the Lasithi Plateau and from the springs of Kastamonitsa. Planned from the 1970s, the dam was finished in 2012.

History

The village of Sfendyli stood where the lake now lies, and its people had to leave. Since the level of the water changes with the seasons, the village sinks and rises again: when the lake is low, its church and houses come back into view, and it has become known as the Atlantis of Crete.

Nature

The lake has become a wetland that shelters many birds, among them grey herons and migrants, along with dragonflies, fish and water snakes. More than half the butterfly species of Crete can be seen along the riverside road and in the Lagada area, including two found only on Crete.

Visit

Swimming

No reliable information

Tips

The best way to explore is on foot along the riverside road and around Lagada. You can come all year, but spring and summer are best, when plants and flowers are in bloom. Sfendyli is visible only when the water is low, usually in the summer months, and in winter it can vanish again.

The area is also good for cycling and horse riding, and mountain-bike trips and jeep safaris reach it from the coast around Malia and Hersonissos.