Lake Tsivlou in Achaia

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This beautiful mountain lake is located in the prefecture of Achaia and is the result of a devastating and deadly landslide that occurred in the area in 1913! (As it happened in 1963-1964 in the case of the lake Stefaniada in Agrafa.)

Tsivlou , along with Lake Doxa in Corinthia, are two of the most beautiful lakes in the Peloponnese.

Alpine feeling in Achaia.

Lake Tsivlou is one of the few mountain lakes of the Peloponnese and is located in the prefecture of Achaia, on the slopes of the mountain of Kalavryta, Chelmos. It is a natural lake with a life span of less than a hundred years since it was added to the geophysical map of the region only in 1913.

• See all the photos
• Accommodation on the lake
• See the map
• Read the access information from Athens for Lake Tsivlou

The creation of Lake Tsivlou

This was not because it was somehow hidden and discovered by accident, but for the simple reason that it was created in a particularly violent way right then. It is the product of the great landslide that occurred in March 1913, which carried away thousands of tons of soil and rocks that literally wiped out the village of Sylivina (they had managed to leave their homes) and overwhelmed the village of Tsivlos, hence the name of the lake, while at the same time blocking the bed of the river Krathi, whose waters were trapped in a natural basin in which the lake was formed.

In the beginning two lakes had been formed, Tsivlou and Lake Krathi, but the natural dam from the tons of soil could not withstand the pressure of the water and as a result the lake collapsed and emptied within a few hours in early 1914.

We recently discovered in France the lake Lac de Vallon which has many elements in common with Lake Chiblou as it too was formed by a natural landslide and is even younger at only 70 years old.

Of course the freshest lake we have visited that has been created in a similar way is the Lake Stefaniada in Agrafa, Argithea , Karditsa prefecture which was created only in 1964!

Accommodation in Lake Tsivlou

The natural landscape of the lake

It is located at an altitude of about 800 meters on the slopes of Chelmos in a green landscape of particular natural beauty and is considered a deep lake as its original depth was 80 meters while it is formed every year depending on the annual rainfall.

Just before you reach the lake you will see parts of it among the pine and plane trees that cover the area. It will look like a small dot of water amidst mountainous tree-lined plateaus which in winter are usually white with snow, giving an alpine feel and beauty to this rare mountainous place.

The banks of Tsivlou are ideal for walks in nature or even for cycling excursions. But the best sporting activity for the more organised ones is rowing on the surface of the lake, even though it is relatively small (200 acres) for this particular sport.

And if all these activities or the mere thought of them whets your appetite, all you have to do is visit the little tavern next to the shores of the lake and eat or drink your coffee overlooking the peaceful waters of Tsivlou and the mountain peaks of the mountainous Peloponnese!

• The picturesque village of Zaruhla, about 10 km from the lake with restaurants, guesthouses and shops selling traditional products.
• The Kalavryta ski centre, through the village of Peristera. Before you start, however, check for the road conditions and weather conditions.

Athens-Tsivlou route

Distance from Athens: 172 km, 2,5 hours approx.

However, road access to the lake is very easy. From the national road from Athens to Patras and specifically at the height of Akrata, follow the sign for Zarouchla which will lead you to the mountains of the prefecture of Achaia.

After about 27 km of mountainous but mild road you will turn right towards Lake Tsivlou. After 3-4 km and after passing over the river Krathi you will find yourself next to the shores of the lake, enjoying the reflections of the mountainous masses in its peaceful and crystal clear waters.

Accommodation in Lake Tsivlou

If you want to stay very close to the lake then you probably won’t have much or any choice (which is probably good for the lake and the natural environment. Except for the Aithra Boutique Hotel which is a stone’s throw away).

As you will see most of the guesthouses are located at a distance from Lake Tsivlou and mainly in the beautiful and historic Kalavrita where you will find accommodation for almost all tastes.

text/photos: Yannis Tsouratzis

Photos from Lake Tsivlou

Map Lake Tsivlou

Δείτε φωτογραφίες και διαβάστε χρήσιμες πληροφορίες για την πανέμορφη Λίμνη Δόξα που μαζί με την Τσιβλού ειναι δύο από τις ομορφότερες λίμνες της Ελλάδος