Melissani Cave, Underground lake cave in Karavomylos, Greece
The site holds an underground lake roughly 130 feet (40 meters) wide and 118 feet (36 meters) long, filled with turquoise water. A large circular opening in the limestone ceiling admits natural light that sparkles on the water surface and illuminates the damp rock walls.
A shepherd found the entrance in 1951 after part of the ceiling collapsed and brought the lake to daylight. Archaeologists later excavated clay lamps and small figurines showing that people held rituals here in ancient times.
According to Greek mythology, the nymph Melissani drowned here from unrequited love for Pan, the shepherd god. Local visitors still throw small objects into the water and regard the cave as a place of memory for the old stories.
Visitors board small rowboats steered by guides across the water to view the entire cave. Lighting is best between May and September when the sun shines nearly straight down through the ceiling opening around midday.
The lake water is a mix of salt and fresh water because it connects to the sea through underground channels. Researchers took years to discover that the water flows into the earth at Katavothres and exits here again.
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