A Waterfall in Attica: A Hidden Gem in my Backyard
Maybe the last waterfall in Attica
We were all busy in the kitchen of my parental house in Drafi preparing the Easter Sunday feast when the phone rang. It was my brother.
“I will be there in a few minutes,” he announced. “Be ready, so I pick you up. Today, I will take you to see the waterfall.”
I was feeling a bit lethargic and somewhat unwilling to move out of the house. I was enjoying the preparations’ frenzy – not that I was significantly contributing myself. I was more fascinated with the spring colours installed in the vases of my mum, the Easter ambience, and the aromas of the cooking meal. But the day was bright, and the surrounding slopes had dressed in fresh green dotted with whites and yellows, so I decided to join. I was also curious: I had never heard of a waterfall in Attica. I didn’t even know there were any.
The ravine and the waterfall at the background
Just a few kilometres away from our house, we left the car and continued on foot. The waterfall was already visible at the far end of a ravine that was stretching a few metres below our feet, reaching as far as the eye could see. We descended a narrow path that was almost overtaken by aromatic plants and shrubs adorned in flowers and, at the last curve, the cataract emerged, cascading from a 6-metre height, forming a pool of crystal, emerald-shaded waters.
Walking down the path towards the waterfall
My nephews and niece began exploring the place, crouching next to the bank to monitor the tadpoles, hopping from stone to stone to cross the pool, imitating superhero poses for the photos, throwing rocks, and sloshing in the basin. I allowed my gaze to wander around, mesmerised by the charm of the location, still in disbelief that such a haven would exist in our backyard, just half an hour away from the centre of Athens.
Tadpoles
“You should have seen it before the fires,” my brother commented. “It was full of oak and plane trees; the place was of idyllic beauty. I wish I had taken photos back then. Now, the landscape is bushy instead of wooded, and I am not sure if trees will ever grow again here. Still, the presence of the water attracts and nourishes numerous species of flora and fauna, turning this into an interesting spot of biodiversity, one of the last wild ravines in Attica – and a beloved, “secret” destination for families and picnic breaks.”
“The waterfall – one of the few if not the only one in Attica – is created by the Valanaris stream whose springs are in the Southern Penteli Mountain, somewhere close to the Mavrinora area. The name possibly derives from the oak trees that used to be dominant here (*), though the stream is also known as Lykorema, Vathyrema, or just Megalo Rema (meaning, Big Stream). The water flows all the way to the south and then eastwards, forming, after 16 kilometres, the Rafina ravine. There is water here all year round, and we often come with the kids. Sometimes, there are even two waterfalls. I tried once to walk the path downwards to explore if I could reach the sea. However, I was not properly equipped and finally turned back. I am not certain if there is a walkable path next to the stream leading all the way to Rafina. Maybe I will try one day again.”
The Valanaris Stream
We lingered for a little longer, walking around the smaller pools formed in the neighbourhood and observing the waterfall from above, before retracing our steps towards our home and the anticipated Easter feast. Turning back for a last glance, I still felt fascinated by the discovery. So frequently, we miss the hidden gems that exist in our proximity. I was lucky to discover what may be the last waterfall in Attica. How much more am I missing in my own city?
(*) In Greek, an oak tree is called “velanidia.”
Photo credits: © Konstantina Sakellariou
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