Man Katsa waterfall, waterfall on Aspropotamos river, Lesvos, Greece

Man Katsa is a waterfall near Mantamado on Lesbos, about 30 kilometres north of Mytilene. The stream drops over a ledge of volcanic rock into a pool below, set among the hills above the village. The site is reached on foot along a trail through the surrounding vegetation.

The waterfall was formed about 17 million years ago when the nearby Lepetymnos volcano erupted and left volcanic rock called ignimbrite. Later, tectonic movements created faults in this rock, along which water now flows today.

The name Man Katsa means "crazy flesh" in Greek, tied to a local legend: a shepherdess so beautiful that the young men of the area could not resist her led them in a wild Dionysian dance and then threw them over the waterfall. The falls lie near Mantamado, about 30 km north of Mytilene.

The trail to the waterfall is short and mostly flat, marked with signs and worn paths from other visitors. Wear sturdy shoes since the volcanic rocks can be slippery, bring water, and plan your visit in spring or early summer for the best water flow.

The amount of water flowing down the falls changes dramatically depending on the season and weather conditions. After heavy rain it looks flooded, while in late summer it appears as a damp wall with green algae and barely any water flow.