PLASTIRAS LAKE - A Man-Made Wonder That Feels Eternal

Gazing at it, you’d think it had always been there. Everything blends so beautifully and harmoniously—the water, the dense vegetation, the picturesque villages, the rugged mountains, and their reflections on the still, mirror-like surface. It’s a place that transforms with the seasons yet never loses its charm. It feels like many places in one, each more beautiful than the last.

And yet, the lake wasn’t always there.

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The Land of Deer

For thousands—even millions—of years, it was simply the plateau of Nevropoli, where deer once roamed freely (nevros means “fawn,” or young deer). A quiet land, patiently awaiting its destiny.

Before that destiny unfolded, it experienced a moment of unexpected glory during World War II, when it served as an Allied airfield for a year (1943–1944), right under the noses of the occupying Nazis. By day, it was camouflaged with “portable” trees; by night, torches lit the runway for landings. 

The defining moment for the Nevropoli plateau came with the vision of a man from the nearby village of Morfovouni. As early as the 1920s, General Nikolaos Plastiras—known as the “Black Rider,” both a military and political leader—had envisioned a lake here, one that would later bear his name. Sadly, he never saw it completed; he died in 1953, six years before the dam was finished...

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The "Birth" of the Lake

The dam was completed in 1959. Waters from the surrounding mountains—torrents, streams, and springs that fed the Megdovas River (also known as Tavropos)—began to gather in the Nevropoli basin, gradually forming the shimmering lake.

At first, the locals didn’t "see" the beauty of the transformed landscape—they only saw the farmland they had lost. Many, after mourning their livelihoods and with compensation money in their pockets, left for the plains of Karditsa or moved to Athens. Those who stayed behind continued with their traditional occupations. But they were mountain people, unfamiliar with the dangers of deep water, and some tragically drowned in the lake.

For nearly three decades, the region seemed to drift into a quiet, almost sweet, lethargy.

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The Tourism Boom

Then, gradually, the first visitors began to arrive. In the early 1990s, the area’s first guesthouse opened—and the rest, as they say, is history. One guesthouse followed another, new tavernas sprang up in every village, and today, Lake Plastiras has become one of the most sought-after travel destinations in Greece. And rightly so—it's a place that truly deserves the spotlight.

It’s ideal for mountain lovers, but also for those drawn to water. For those seeking peace and relaxation, who want to sit by the shore with a fishing rod and let their thoughts wander for hours. For adventure lovers and sports enthusiasts, ready to test their limits on land, water, or even in the air. For food lovers—those who savor grilled meats and those who prefer fresh fish.

In short, it's a destination for everyone!