Get to know Edessa, the Northern Greek city referred to as the “City of Water and of the Five Senses,” which is home to thermal springs and the famed Edessa Waterfalls.
Edessa is the capital of Pella, located in the prefecture of Central Macedonia in Northern Greece. The city is home to some of Greece’s most majestic water sources.
The name, “Edessa,” means “tower in the water,” and was inspired by the city’s landmark waterfalls. In fact, the area’s connection to water is so great that there is even a museum dedicated to the very topic, the Open-Air Water Museum.
The Edessa Waterfalls are said to have been formed in the 14th century, after a major geological or weather phenomenon, most likely, an earthquake.
Edessa: Home to Waterfalls and Thermal Springs
Over the centuries, the water’s formations changed and went from being collected in a basin to streaming through the city, until the eventual creation of today’s breathtaking phenomenon, the city’s waterfalls.
These two waterfalls are quite distinct. There is a double waterfall, referred to as Lamda, and a single, 70-meter waterfall, known as Karanos.
Lamda is said to be a double waterfall, because of the way that the water flows sideways and is split in half by rocks, during its descent.
Lamda and Karanos are located in a 15-acre park, The Edessa Waterfall Park, and are surrounded by lush green trees, wildlife, and nature. Visitors can walk through the park’s paved trails, have picnics, and enjoy the waterfalls’ power.
And for the intrepid explorers among us, there is a hidden path behind Karanos’s curtain of water that people can cross, provided they don’t mind a splash or two. By the bottom of Karanos’ waterfall is the entrance to a small cave, which can also be explored.
Edessa’s natural offerings do not stop there, though. A half-hour drive north of the city of Edessa and the Waterfall Park is the Pozar Thermal Springs.
Nestled in the foothills of Mount Kaimaktsalan, the warm waters offer therapeutic relief, both physical and mental.
The Pozar Thermal Springs, also known as the Loutraki Aridaia Baths, are operated all year round by the Municipality of Edessa. This natural spa has been operating since the 1960s and features forty-eight individual baths.
When immersed in the healing properties of the water, one immediately feels the release of tension and a sense of calm.
What’s more, geothermal energy emitted by the hot springs creates a natural vapor treatment from the streams of steam emanating from the ground.
No matter what time of year, Edessa’s natural beauty engages all the senses and is sure to create lasting memories and unforgettable experiences.
Located a mere 54 miles from Thessaloniki, Edessa’s Waterfalls and the Pozar Thermal Springs are a quick and easy escape from the perfunctory.
