“Wet ghost” on the national road

Just a few kilometers from Athens there is a lake that remains in the shadow of the more popular bodies of water in Attica. Lake Kumoundourou, or “wet ghost” as it is called, borders the municipalities of Haidari and Aspropyrgos. Thousands of drivers pass by every day, but only a few of them realize its significance.

Michael Miller aims to correct this injustice by bringing us some stunning images of this amazing body of water created by nature. The lake is located at sea level, just a few meters from the north-eastern coast of the Gulf of Elefsina. Today, in fact, the lagoon is separated from the sea by the Athens-Corinth highway, and the water in the lake has a salty taste, due to the ingress of sea water.

Lake Kumunduru in ancient times

In ancient times this lake was known as Reithos, whose name comes from the ancient spring of Reith, which supplied it with water. It is believed that the lake was formed artificially during the Classical period, when the opening of an ancient road blocked the access of water from nearby springs to the sea.

According to Pausanias, Lake Kumunduru is named after the goddess Persephoneand next to it there was a second lake (Kefalari), dedicated to Demeter, the mother of Persephone. This lake was drained and filled in. Residents of the Scaramanga area claim that both lakes existed until the 1950s.

In ancient times, local residents believed that the water in these lakes “erupts from the bowels of the earth” and flows from Euripus of Chalcis. Given their sacred significance, only the priests of Eleusis could fish in these lakes. Both The ponds were described as real wetlands with crystal clear, constantly renewed water, full of fish.

Lake Kumunduru today

According to sources, at approximately the center of Lake Kumunduru, the great architect and archaeologist Ioannis Traulos discovered a long wall that was probably part of a dam that held back the water and gave shape to the lake.

The modern name of Lake Komundourou may come either from the name of the family of landowners who owned the area in the 19th century, or from the name of Prime Minister Alexandros Komundourou (1817-1883), who in the second half of the 1860s carried out excavation work and construction of the road between Scaramanga coast and lake.

Interesting facts and secrets of Lake Kumuduru:

1. Underground tunnels: The Scaramanga area is home to mysterious underground tunnels that are rumored to be connected to Lake Kumuduru. These tunnels have not yet been fully explored and raise many questions.
2. Historical artifacts: Various artifacts have been found in the area around the lake that may indicate ancient civilizations that lived in the area. Some of them have still not been deciphered and remain a mystery to archaeologists.
3. Mystical phenomena: Locals report strange phenomena occurring on the lake, such as unexplained lights and sounds. These stories add a mystical aura to the lake and attract paranormal enthusiasts.
4. Ecological significance: Lake Kumuduru is also of great ecological importance. It is home to various species of flora and fauna, some of which are endemic and found nowhere else in the world.

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