Eftastomos

Subterranean palace made of ice!

Eftastomos is a natural gorge, whose ending point hosts the earliest glacier in Europe. The view is spectacular and rare, and despite the high summer temperatures, Eftastomos preserves at its bottom ice-stalagmites and ice-stalactites, forming a unique setting which resembles a true palace made of ice.

Eftastomos was named after the seven mouths leading to the bottom of the glacier. Descending is particularly dangerous, and you should not attempt it, unless you are appropriately equipped and trained. The casual walker will simply admire the gorge, but there is no possibility to view the glacier from above.

Inside the gorge, the first ice appears at 70 meters below. Huge ice pillars, 3 to 6 meters high, make access difficult , yet they seem to support the vault of the cave. A small ice cataract springs from an opening in the rock, right next to the pillars. The gorge is approximately 90 meters long and speleologists have surveyed down to 130 meters.

How to get there

The gorge is located on western Parnassus, near the area of Kalania. On your way from Arachova to Livadi, at approximately 4 km after the intersection on the right, to the ski center of Parnassus, you will see a sign-post. Take the accessable unpaved road, and follow the signage showing the way to the cave, which is at a distance of 3-4 km.