Vouliagmeni Lake and Health Spa

  • by XpatAthens
  • Monday, 02 March 2015
Vouliagmeni Lake and Health Spa
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 is always a thrill for me. I really love flying over the islands as we make that big turn to come in from the south. For about 30 years I have 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 touch 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.

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.


Copied by permission from Matt Barrett's Greece Travel Guide at www.athensguide.com

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