Kremasta (lake)

The Kremasta Reservoir ( Greek τεχνητή λίμνη Κρεμαστών spoken Techniti limni Kremaston; simplified Λίμνη Κρεμαστών ) is the largest reservoir in Greece. The reservoir is located in Western Greece and is located both in the prefecture Evrytania as well as in the prefecture of Aetolia - Acarnania. The plant was commissioned in 1969.

The Kremasta Reservoir is fed by four tributaries: the main tributary is the river Achelous, which are three minor tributaries the rivers Tavropos, Agrafiotis and Trikeriotis. The area covers 92 km ², the maximum storage volume is 4.7 billion cubic meters and the maximum depth is 51.6 m. The reservoir is based on the natural course of the Achelous and its tributaries in the valleys of the southern Pindos Mountains, giving the reservoir a fjord-like appearance. The dam of Kremasta dam is 165 m high and 465 m long and is one of the major dams of the world.

The reservoir or its offshoots are spanned by two major bridges: the Episkopi Bridge ( named after the sunken monastery), which also marks the boundary between the prefectures Evrytania and Aetolia - Acarnania, and the Tatarna Bridge ( named after the nearby monastery Tatarna ). About the latter the national road leads 38 ( European Route 952) of Agrinio (west ) to Karpenissi and then to Lamia (east). She is a very important east -west link between the Greek regions of Western Greece ( Aetolia - Acarnania ) and Central Greece ( Evrytania, Lamia ).

Due to the impoundment of the dam Kremasta following geographical points and buildings or buildings have been flooded:

• Mardacha the source which supplied the only the Achelous in the summer months,
• The Monastery of Episkopi from the Byzantine period (near Episkopi Bridge )
• The Manoli bridge dating from 1659, which connected the two banks of the river Agrafiotis for 400 years ( see figure at right )
• The old arch bridge Tatarna and
• The villages of Agios Vassilios and Sidera Trichonidas.

A special feature is the old arch bridge Manoli, which is flooded almost entirely from the lake, when it is full. In the months with low water bridge passes completely out of the lake, surrounded by a mud desert ( see photo).

The region around the Kremasta Reservoir is subject to the provisions on protection of the Natura 2000 program.

The Kremasta Reservoir is used in addition to the energy and water sports ( canoe and kayak).

During the completion of the dam, a strong earthquake with a magnitude of 6.2 on the Richter scale occurred on February 5, 1966 at 02:01 local time clock; the dam under construction was not wearing any damages. There are indications that the earthquake was caused by the damming of the lake and the higher pressure associated to the below- sea rock strata. ( Induced seismicity )