Zaros Lake

Zaros is a relatively large village built on the southern slope of Psiloritis Mountain (altitude: 340 m). It belongs to Heraklion Prefecture (44 km south of Heraklion City) and it has a population of approximately 3.400 people.

The village owes its popularity to its homonymous Lake and nearby gorge. To be more specific, it owes it popularity to the famous “Zaros” table water brand. Zaros table water actually flows from the nearby springs, which in turn pour their water into the lake. Zaros Lake is artificial. It was designed and shaped by the Forest Service in 1987. The idea was to store the water from the great Votomos spring (this is why Zaros Lake is also called Votomos Lake) and other smaller springs that originate from Psiloritis Mountain. The idea was more than good and the outcome was more than helpful to the whole area. Today, Zaros is not only famous, but it has become a pole of attraction for many visitors, both locals and tourists, who want to admire the beauty of the landscape and the… taste of the trouts and salmons fish-farmed in the lake and served by the local tavernas.