Page 32 - (DK Eyewitness) Top 10 Travel Guide - Corfu & the Ionian Islands

30 ❯❯ Top 10 Corfu and the Ionian Islands Highlights

Caves of Kefalloniá

The massive Drogkaráti cave and the subter ranean Melissáni cave,
with its natural lake, are just two of Kefalloniá’s must-see caves.
These natural wonders feature stalactites and stalagmites, which
have formed over thousands of years. Other caves to visit include
Angalaki, Zervati, Sakkos, Aghia Eleousa and Aghia Theodori.
Kefalloniá has suffered severely in earthquakes over the centuries,
but the tremors have revealed entrances to these magnificent caves.
Melissáni Cave 1
Discovered by
spele ologist Gianni
Petrochilo, in 1951, this
cave (right) near Sámi is
believed to have been the
sanc tuary of the god Pan.
It is famous for its blue
lake lit by the sun through
a hole in its roof. The lake
is fed from the sea via
underground caves.
Aghia Eleousa
2
Cave
Remarkable only for the
fact that it was created
by nature, this cave is
neither deep nor large.
However, it does empty
into a salt­water lake
thought to be connected
to the underground
stream network that
feeds Lake Melissáni.
Angalaki Cave
Agios
Zervati Cave
3 4 5
Gerasimos
This cave has
This enormous
Named after the patron cave can be found along passages that descend
Agia
saint of Kefalloniá, this the main road leading deep into the earth. With Kardakáta Effimia
cave (below) at Lássi north out of Sámi. Among Angalaki cave, it is one of 1
is said to be where St its fascinating features the deepest in the area 2 Sámi
Gerasimos lived when he are huge caverns, under­ and has great caverns and 0 Poulata
first came to the island ground lakes and shelves under ground lakes, many Argostóli Faraklata
in 1560. A tiny chapel can along the walls formed with submerged stalac­ Lássi
still be seen in the cave. by erosion of the rocks. tites and stalagmites. Peratáta Póros
Lourdáta
Aghia
6 Skála
Theodori Cave
One of the lesser­known
caves, Aghia Theodori is
a deep shaft that leads
to a small underground
lake, thought to be home
to a variety of fish and
subterranean foliage.
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