GUIDED TOUR OF LADONAS RIVER

Text and research by Nikos Aivalis, translation by Eva Trombetas

The river Ladonas is the main tributary of Alpheios. One of the attractions of Arcadia is the great river dam. The dam created an artificial lake 15 km long in a ravine of mount Aphrodisio. It was created in 1955 by PPC and has been built at Pidima point at an altitude of 420 meters, in an imposing and rich natural environment. Manufacturer was an Italian company and in terms of cost had been included in Italy's war allowances to Greece since World War II. Its height is 50 meters, while the water of the dam, after being used for electricity production, flows out from the factory (near the village of Voutsis) and returns to Ladonas for be used again for agricultural production.

You can reach the lake of Ladonas from the village Tropaia of Arcadia or from Daphne of Achaia. The route is impressive, of unique natural beauty, through picturesque villages of Gortynia, such as Vachlia and Kontovazena, as well as the village Lykouria from where the river springs in a beautiful location. An attraction of the area is the bridge of Kyra (bridge of Lady) of the village of Mouria, which connects the north with the south bank, the construction of which took place around the 13th century AD of the Franks who had conquered Moria (Moria or Morea named medieval and byzantine Peloponnese). In the French Chronicle of the Morea in 1265 it is stated that the half part of Strezova (Daphne of Kalavryta) was ceded to Lady Margarita of Passava. From this it took its name the bridge, which has excellent masonry.

village of Mouria

There are also references in ancient greek mythology about the river, such as the myth of the tragopodar Pan with the nymph Syringa. Legend has it that Pan was wandering around the area and when he saw the beautiful nymph he started chasing her. She, exhausted, reached the banks of the river, and begged Ladon to help her. As soon as he saw Pan approaching he turned her into a reed. Then pan cut some reeds and made the characteristic musical instrument, syringe. Also myth say that the goddess Demeter bathed in the river and was one of the hunting grounds of the goddess Artemis. Here also happened the legend of Leucippus who dressed up as a woman to be close to his beloved nymph, Daphne. Near the riverbed, in the forest of Soronas called Aphrodite mountain, the goddess Aphrodite met with her illegal lover, god Ares. Finally, Other Myths say that in Ladon caught the famous deer of Artemis the demigod hero Hercules and how here god Apollo fell in love with Ladon's daughter, Daphne. The traveler Pausanias was impressed by the natural beauty of the landscape but also by the preserved traditions and myths of the region, which he recorded in "Arcadian book", while he mentioned specifically about Ladon: "Ladon has the most beautiful water in Greece. It is also famous among the people, because of Daphne and related traditions..."

the bridge of Kyra

But even in modern times Ladonas remains a place of unparalleled beauty. Especially the villages of Dimitra, Pournaria, Mouria and Daphne are amazing destinations. Ladonas as well as its tributaries Paios, Aroanios and Tragos are offered for canoe kayaking and rafting. It is also offered for swimming, hiking, fishing, cycling, hunting and mountaineering in riverside areas. At a distance of about 5 km from the village of Daphne, in a beautiful location, there are alternative tourism facilities, where archery, mountain biking, rowing and other activities are organized.

village Daphne

The habitat of the lake and the surrounding areas are very rich and the forests formed in the surrounding area are composed of oaks, arbutus, plane trees, willow trees, maples, populus trees and alder, while there are rare species of flora such as fritillaria, iris, tulips, daffodils, violas, crocuses and orchids. However, the fauna of the area is rich with many wild boars, otters, foxes, hares, weasels, ferrets, badgers, while Ladonas is also a rest stop for a large plethora of avifauna, as cormorants, kingfishers, common coots, little grebes and other species live in the lake and the surrounding areas. Reptile fauna is also rich with konaki, moraitosaurus and graicosaurus. The lake also hosts fish species, such as carp and trout.

Ladonas springs in village Lykouria

The area of the artificial lake of Ladonas has been declared an ecological park. It is an area worth visiting. The Arcadian nature offers generously unique landscapes and special destinations and awaits you to explore it.