Photo: Ale30307 · CC BY-SA 4.0Drakolimni of Smolikas is an alpine lake on the west slope of Smolikas, the second highest mountain in Greece, in Epirus. It is one of the Drakolimni, the Dragon Lakes, and lies only a few kilometres north of the Drakolimni of Tymfi, with the gorge of the Aoos river between them. According to local folk tales the lakes were once inhabited by dragons that fought each other, and the lake is home to a species of alpine newt.
How it formed
The lake lies at about 2,150 m, an irregular, roughly heart-shaped water of about half a hectare. Its depth is not known, though its blue colour is thought to come from being deep.
Nature
In spring the lakeside fills with flowers, wild orchids above all, along with lilies, violas and saxifrages. Alpine newts live in the lake, and swimming can disturb them, so stay out of the water.
Visit
Swimming
No reliable information
Tips
Trail 03 from Agia Paraskevi (Kerasovo) and trail K2, which starts 2 km beyond the village and follows yellow signs, each take about four hours; on K2, turn right at the junction with the trail from Samarina. From Palioseli (about 1,080 m) the marked path climbs to the stone refuge at about 1,680 m, around two hours away, with the lake about two hours farther on. Routes also start from Pades and Pournia.
From the lake to the summit (2,637 m) takes about an hour and a half; this stretch is poorly marked, and it gets steeper and rockier as you go. Bears live on the mountain. Spring is the greenest time, midday sun is fierce in summer, and in winter the lake is frozen and out of reach. This is high mountain ground, so check the weather first.
Nearby lakes
Show on map
Know Drakolimni Smolika well?
Suggest a beach, viewpoint, trail or amenity, or tell us if something has changed. We read every message.
Sources & data
- OpenStreetMap: Δρακόλιμνη (way 139888703), OpenStreetMap contributors
- English Wikipedia: Drakolimni, Wikimedia Foundation
- Mikro Papigo – Drakolimni Tymfis Trail, AllOverGreece
- Paleoseli mountain refuge, Drakolimni of Smolikas, Vikos-Aoös UNESCO Global Geopark
- Smolikas Drakolimni: sub-alpine lake with wild orchids, Travel.gr
- Hiking in Greece: Smolikas, Belle Elene