Verliga, an Alpine Paradise in Aspropotamos

At the western edge of Thessaly, above its westernmost village, Chaliki, lies one of the most impressive landscapes in all of Greece—the plateau of Verliga, with its seasonal dragon lake and the “calligraphic” meanders of the Acheloos River’s sources. Here, at an altitude of 2050 meters, in the heart of the Pindus mountains, the enchanting nature of Aspropotamos reaches the peak of its beauty! The landscape changes dramatically depending on the season, always evoking strong emotions and a mysterious blend of serenity and awe. Even within a single day, the whims of the unpredictable weather can alter its appearance.

The plateau of Verliga stretches across a wild yet captivating location, surrounded by bare peaks and low alpine vegetation. To the north of the plateau rises the highest peak of Lakmos, Tsoukarela (2,295 m), and to the south begin the rocky cliffs of Megas Trapos (2,240 m). During the spring months, when the snow of Megas Trapos melts, the lake fills with water, transforming the scenery into an earthly paradise for nature lovers and hikers. The waters then flow through a meandering network of streams (snake-like rivulets) exiting the plateau to the east, where they form a waterfall and, joining further down with the Rona springs, give rise to the Aspropotamos and, eventually, the Acheloos River.

Myths of Verliga

Verliga in the Vlach language means “whirling,” “spinning,” or “eddy” (with the intensifier “ntip” in front, it can also describe someone drunk, someone moving in loops). It is also known by the names Ntiverliga and Vourliga, while another etymological theory suggests it comes from the Vlach word “vringa”, meaning “circle.”

According to legend, at the site of the dragon lake, a dragon emerged from the bowels of the mountain. In the form of a serpent, it sprang from the rock and, slithering, sank back into the ground where the waters now exit. From the place the dragon emerged, water gushed forth and followed a serpentine path across the meadows. The location of the seasonal dragon lake is now called Pharmakolakka, a name given by the shepherds, since, as they say, when livestock grazed there, they would die. According to them, there are at least ten springs from which water gushes forth on the plateau. 

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An Ecological Paradise*

Despite its wild, barren, and seemingly inhospitable terrain, Verliga is an important wildlife refuge. From late spring to mid-summer, it is covered in flowers. The bright yellow of buttercups mixes with the deep blue of Crocus veluchensis, which emerges as the ice melts. Dozens of plant species are found here, many of them rare.

The birdlife in the alpine zone is equally rich, especially when it comes to birds of prey. A few vultures still live in the area, along with golden eagles, booted eagles, short-toed snake eagles, common buzzards, and peregrine falcons. Large flocks of alpine choughs "patrol" the region, and the birdlife is enriched by many rare small birds that visit the alpine meadows as the ice melts.

The reptile fauna includes one of the rarest snakes in Greece, the meadow viper (Vipera ursinii), which prefers to live among the bare stones above 1,800 meters. Other species include the alpine newt, salamander, yellow-bellied toad, Greek frog, common toad, green lizard, and the common viper. 

Bears, wolves, and roe deer are occasionally present in the area, while other species are more common, such as wildcats, weasels, martens, foxes, and hares. Notably, near the high peaks and vertical cliffs, a few chamois still survive.

Due to the area's great ecological significance, motorized vehicles and camping are strictly prohibited!

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How to Get There

From Chaliki (about 95 km from Trikala) you can reach Verliga after a 3–3.5 hour hike of approximately 9 kilometers. Apart from the significant elevation gain (about 900 meters), the trail does not present major difficulties.

You can also get relatively close to Verliga by car, via a rough dirt road. A proper off-road vehicle is essential (the higher the clearance, the better). Shortly after the second sheepfold you’ll encounter (and just before the third), you’ll find a barrier closing the path (about 8.5 km from Chaliki). From there, the plateau is about a 30–40 minute walk away.

*The ecological data about Verliga was drawn from the excellent article by David Koutsogiannopoulos on the website Natura Graeca. For more information, refer to the article mentioned.