Katavothres

Along the back road that runs from Argostoli to Lassi you will find a rare geological phenomenon, known as "Katavothres", in which rain water enters an underground tunnel near the shore and disappears under the island. The tunnel then passes beneath the island and arrives after some days on the other side of the island, in Melissani Lake and then in the village of Karavomilos, where it rejoins the sea. The phenomenon was first observed by an Englishman called Stewens, who was impressed by the mills located at each end. At the same time a famous geologist ‘Miliaresis’ studied the effects of earthquakes to this phenomenon. Studies after earthquakes and especially after the great earthquake of 1953 observed that there was no change in the flow of the water and the mills continued to operate flawlessly. During the Second World War the mills were used in the workings of ice factories.The phenomenon was verified in 1963 by an Austrian geologist. A quantity of coloured ink was cast into one of the sinks and its journey was tracked showing that the water moves northwest under the island and having united with the rainwater comes out in Melissani Lake and then continues on to a circular lake in Karavomilos, a village near to Sami.