Drakolimni

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Coordinates: 39°59′38.84″N, 20°47′12.31″E

Panoramic image of Drakolimni of Tymfi, with Ploskos peak (center) and Astraka peak (right)

Drakolimni (Greek: Δρακολίμνη = Dragon lake) is the name of several alpine or sub-alpine lakes in the northwestern Greek Epirus (region), the ones of Tymfi and Smolikas being the most widely known.

[edit] Drakolimni of Tymfi

The first lake resides at an altitude of 2050m above sea level, on the mountain range of Tymfi. It is overlooked by the nearby peaks of Ploskos (Greek: Πλόσκος) and Astraka (Greek: Αστράκα). At 5 hours walking distance from the village of Papigko, the lake is a popular trekking destination in the Vikos-Aoos National Park.

The lake is inhabited by a species of alpine newt^[1], called drakakia by the locals (Greek: Δρακάκια) and, according to local sources, the newts' resemblance to small dragons gives the lake its distinctive name^{[citation needed]}.

[edit] Drakolimni of Smolikas

The second lake resides on the west slope of Smolikas, the second highest mountain of Greece. Smolikas lies a few kilometers north of Tymfi, only separated by the gorge of the river Aoos. This lake is also inhabited by alpine newt.