Drakolimni (“Dragon Lake”) is the name of several alpine or sub-alpine lakes in northwestern Greece Epirus region: the ones in mountain Tymfi and Smolikas are the most widely known. According to local folktales the lakes used to be inhabited by dragons who fought each other by throwing pines and rocks and thus created the peculiar landscape and gave their names to the lakes.
The lake resides at an altitude of 2050m above sea level, on the mountain range of Tymfi, in Vikos–Aoos National Park. It is overlooked by the nearby peaks of Ploskos and Astraka. At 5 hours walking distance from the village of Papingo, the lake is a popular trekking destination in the Vikos–Aoös National Park.
The lake is inhabited by a species of alpine newt, called drakakia by the locals and, according to local sources, the newts’ resemblance to small dragons gives the lake its distinctive name.
