Zaros Lake, Natural park in Zaros region, Crete, Greece.
Zaros Lake is an artificial lake situated beneath Mount Psiloritis, surrounded by native trees and Mediterranean vegetation whose reflections shimmer on the water. The landscape forms a continuous space where the shoreline connects the water to the forest and village beyond.
In 1987 the Forest Service created the lake by damming the area, transforming a small wetland fed by the Votomos spring into a larger water body. This development turned the region into the recreational space it is today.
Locals tell of how this place once was a threshing floor belonging to a young woman who asked the gods for water, a story passed down through generations in the village. The tale explains how people understand the landscape and its connection to their past.
Marked trails link the lake to Zaros village and Rouvas Gorge, with signs clearly showing distances and difficulty levels. Visitors can easily choose a route that matches their abilities and available time.
The park houses a freshwater trout farm that supplies local restaurants with fish year-round. This working facility demonstrates how the area serves both recreation and local food production.
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