The haunting beauty of Greece’s alpine lakes gave way to legendary tales of mythical creatures that once inhabited them. Locals call them “Dragon Lakes” (Drakolimnes) because they are believed to have been created by dragons throwing stones at each other, hence creating spectacular landscapes. Each dragon lake bears the name of the monster that created it.

Where lore and legend meet unique ecosystems of incredible natural beauty

These lakes are in hard-to-reach locations, mostly on the Pindus mountain range at Epirus and West Macedonia. Nature lovers appreciate them for their unique beauty, however, scientists – who believe that they are remnants of the Ice Age – are drawn to the lakes to study the interesting mix of nutrients in their waters as well as to explore their strange ecosystems.

Tymfi Dragon Lake (Gamila)


Located 2,050 meters on Mt. Tymfi, between the Aoos River and the Voidomatis, in the reserve area of the North Pindus Range of the Gamila crest (Tymfi’s highest peak). The story goes that two dragons once lived here and threw stones at each other to create the Tymfi Dragon Lake that is black-colored with scattered white stones and the Smolikas Dragon Lake that is white with black scattered stones.

Tymfi Lake

Smolikas Dragon Lake


It is 2,200 meters up Greece’s second-highest mountain, Smolikas. It is 2,000-4,000 square meters in size and is very deep. The heart-shaped lake has a deep blue color. Legend has it that it was created during the war between the Mt. Tymfi dragon. The locals say that the Smolikas dragon finally won by tricking his opponent. Instead of throwing rocks, he threw salt balls that the lead to the Mt. Tymfi dragon’s demise.

Smolikas Lake

Gistova Dragon Lake


Greece’s largest alpine lake lies at 2,350 meters in altitude and is near the border with Albania. Locals say that a good-natured dragon created the lake after he shed tears following his eviction from the nearby village of Grammos.

Gistova Lake

Arenon Dragon Lake


Nestled in the lush beech forest of Moutsalia, the emerald green lake is on the border between the districts of Ioannina and Kastoria. It isn’t easy to spot. The lake surface spans over 15,000 squared miles but it is just a meter in depth allowing visitors to literally walk through it!

Arenon Lake

Flenga Dragon Lakes


The twin lakes are located at Mt. Mavrovouni’s subalpine zone at a height of around 1,940-1,960 meters. Spring waters at a higher level feed into the lakes. Local lore says that Makedonas, the son of Zeus or Aiolos, had three sons – one of which was the Pindus. The two brothers envied the Pindus and hatched a plan to kill him, but the Pindus found out at the eleventh hour and fled up the mountains. He lived off the land by hunting and befriended Lygos, a dragon. The brothers ambushed him and killed him in the dragon’s absence. The beast’s tears formed the twin lakes.

Flenga Lake

Verlinga or Vringa Dragon Lake


The swirly lake, near the village of Aspropotamos, is at an altitude of 2,050 meters and covers an area of 10,000 square meters. It is formed from the ten serpentine waterways that are the sources of the Acheloos River. Naturally, the dragon in this lake was snake-like. He was a sinister creature that remained unseen, springing out from beneath his rock from time to time to ambush and devour a local.

Verlinga Lake

Lake Stefaniada


The impressive lake lies near Agrafa village that looks like a dragon’s eyeball was created in 1963 when the earth collapsed, slowly creating a basin filled with water.

Lake Stefaniada

Alpine Newt


This unique creature of the dragon lakes is a type of salamander in the class of amphibians. The 10-12 centimeter long creature inhabits the lakes as the successor of the dynastic dragons that are believed to have created them.

Alpine Newt