LAKE ZAROS

The artificial Lake Zaros (also known as Votomos) is located on the southern slopes of Mount Psiloritis, just 1 km north of the village of Zaros. Before 1987, the area was a small wetland formed around the Votomos spring crater. The lake took its current form in 1987, when the Forest Service created an artificial reservoir to collect and manage spring water.

The water originates from the three springs of “Mati,” part of the rich spring system of the region. The name “Zaros” in Greek refers to a place with abundant water.

Around the lake, visitors will find restaurants and cafés where they can relax and enjoy locally farmed trout and salmon from nearby breeding tanks. The area also includes a playground, as well as benches and picnic tables, making it ideal for a short and peaceful walk around the lake.

Lake Zaros is also the starting point of a scenic hiking trail that passes through the St. Nicholas Gorge and leads to the impressive Rouvas forest, about 5 km to the north (approximately 2.5 hours of trekking).