Zaros Lake

Until the end of the 1980s, northwest of Zaros, there was a small lake covered with water lilies and frequented by eels.

The lake was formed by the crater of a large spring like that of nearby Sterna, but on looser ground. The runoff waters of Lake Votomos have been used since the 70s for trout and salmon fish farming, a situation which has been utilised by two unique restaurants in the area.

In 1987, the Forest Service decided to make use of the lake in conjunction with the Rouva gorge and forest, both of which belong to the District of Gergeri. The earthworks carried out in the lake revealed the remains of Roman reservoirs and conduits as had also happened with Sterna previously. Here, too, the infrastructure was laid for collecting and channelling water to the cities of the plain.

Info: Municipality of Phaistos

Photo 1: Avramakis,M. / Natural History Museum of Crete – University of Crete