Melissani Cave-Lake (Vertical), a photo from Kefalinia, Ionian Islands

Photographer's Note

Kefalonia is an island full of mystery and "peculiar" places. One of them is Mellisani cave, on the eastern part of the island, the first "cabriolet" cave i've seen in my life. Its roof collapsed after an earthquake some 5.000 years ago. You can make a small tour by small boat.

The other strange thing about this cave is the water that's running through it, which is half "sweet" and half "salty". It is connected with another of the mysteries of the island. On the western part of the island, close to the town of Argostoli, there is a place called "Katavothres", where in some point the waters of a small creek, suddenly get "swallowed" by the ground. For many decades people were trying to find out where this water was going. Someone came with the idea to throw tones of paint in it. Two weeks later, the painted water, appeared in the Melissani's cave, on the opposite part of the island about 40 km away.

Some more info from Wikipedia:

"Melissani Cave (Greek: Μελισσάνη) or Melissani Lake, also Melisani is a Greek cave located northwest of Sami, about 5 km SE of Agia Efthymia, NE of Argostoli and NW of Poros. The Ionian Sea lies to the east with the Strait of Ithaca. Forests surrounds the cave and the mountain slope is to the west. Near the cave is the entry to the cave with parking lots and is passed almost in the middle of the main road linking Sami and Agia Efthymia especially to the northern part of the island. (...) In Greek mythology, Melissani was the cave of the nymphs. The cave features a lake that are surrounded with trees and forests. The cave is located east of the mountains of Evmorfia and Agia Dynati. Tourism is common in the cave.

The cave features a sky-blue lake covered with stones at the bottom. the depth is thin. Plants are at the door of the cave. The color of the rocks which are stucco to honey-like brown is at the door of the cave. The lake is also inside the cave.

The cave was rediscovered in 1951 by Giannis Petrocheilos."

***MORE PHOTOS FROM KEFALONIA***

Copyright � 2010 � Hercules Milas. The reproduction, publication, modification, transmission or exploitation of any work contained herein for any use, personal or commercial, without my prior written permission is strictly prohibited. All rights reserved.

Budapestman, carlosmarin, jhm, vasilpro, Leconte, dkmurphys, ikeharel, mkamionka, samson has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

jasmis (58653) 2010-07-01 2:33

Another "paradise" presentation in fresh juicy colours. Superb vertical frame this time.
Regards.

JFS (32459) 2010-07-01 3:03

Hola Hercules,
Qu� fot鏮! como dir燰 "coco", que por cierto hace tiempo que no aparece en TE.
Me dan una ganas de ba鎙rme en esas aguas...
Un abrazo,
Juan

Budapestman (82620) 2010-07-01 3:10

Hi Hercules,
a beautiful romantic impression with spectacular composition and lovely details, the environment is fantastic, great mood, Tfs! Have a nice day! Kellemes napot k癉嫕ok!
Gy顤gy (George)

zeynepe (0) 2010-07-01 3:17

With your eyes the famous place looks so attractive Hercules.
Congrats and enjoy your day,
Zeynep

jemaflor (148124) 2010-07-01 3:53

Hi Hercules,
great pov and result with a nice light capture, blue color are so beautiful, well done.

tusharkmandal (3173) 2010-07-01 4:26

Its like heaven I would say. The blue water and the cave opening. The clear water and nice light falling on it. A great view.

Thanks for Sharing
Tushar

jhm (211738) 2010-07-01 4:35

Hello Hercules,

Caves give oftentimes extraordinarily colors.
The opening care for very nice light and exactly above the boat.
Sharpnness and clarity are wonderful for look at.
I find your picture very nice of colors, good presentation.
Splendid image, good done, TFS.

Best regards,
John.

carlosmarin (11954) 2010-07-01 4:43

Hola Hercules,
magn璗ico lugar que yo no conoc燰.
Buen POV para ver la abertura superior de la cueva.
Bello color turquesa de las aguas.
Presencia de las barcas para dar dimensi鏮 al conjunto.
Buen trabajo.
Saludos,
Carlos

sabermonajati (11537) 2010-07-01 5:01

hi
here is astonishing place.light in water is excellent.
regard
saber

Sergiom (117241) 2010-07-01 6:16

Bonjour Hercules,

Les reflets de la lumi鋨e sur l'eau de la caverne sont tout simplement extraordinaires et la chaloupe est parfaitement situ嶪 dans l'image.

Amicalement

Serge

alin-m (3716) 2010-07-01 7:06

Yassas Hercules.
This place is indeed wonderful.Last year I visited it and liked it a lot.
Very good photo.Congratulations.
Friendly regards.Alin.

Nicou (193814) 2010-07-01 7:28

Hello,

merveilleuse image et compo, quel effet ce tour dans la roche, le couleur merveilleuse de l'eau,a vec la barque quelle iamge et compo, sueprbe.

bravo et amiti�

Nicou

vasilpro (41801) 2010-07-01 8:45

Γεια σου Ηρακλή,
Εξαιρετική και αυτή η σύνθεσή σου από το πανέμορφο αυτό σπήλαιο στην Κεφαλλονιά, ωραία χρώματα και φωτισμός, όμορφη προοπτική.
Σε χαιρετώ, Βασίλης.

ciakgiak (30) 2010-07-01 8:49

Ciao Hercules,
bellissima la luce che filtra dentro la caverna, quella parte d'acqua sembra un diamante incastonato nel paesaggio. Splendidi i colori e la qualit� dello scatto.
Un caro abbraccio.
Giorgio

npecanhuk (79329) 2010-07-01 8:50

Hi Hercules!
Gorgeous place! Impressive rock formations and wonderful colors in the water! It must be terrific to be in those boats and enjoy all that beauty around!
Magnificent picture!
Sharpness, exposure, pov, colors, pp, contrasts, vertical format and composition are all oustanding in this fabulous image!
TFS - congratulations!
Best regards,
Neyvan

angie-barcelona (2784) 2010-07-01 13:03

？ola Hercules!

es realmente una extraordinaria fotograf燰 de un paisaje incre燢le!!!

Un saludo,

Gemma

Leconte (5795) 2010-07-01 14:23

hello Hercules,

a grand sight that deserves another version, the vertical format is more daunting and more attractive, the color of bright green water in the light in the center appears to be reflected on the rock, khaki green trees reflected in the water beside the boat, incredible depth of field and sharpness, the upper part of the image dizzy, breathtaking composition,

best regards,
Valerie.

pittsenbarger (307) 2010-07-01 16:33

Hercules,
Amazing photo that color of the water is spectacular.
this place reminds me of the limestone structures found in thailand.
thanks for sharing.

Cheers

sandpiper (6788) 2010-07-02 3:06

Hi Hercules

A fascinating place. Excellent composition, the wide angle shot is really good. Great work.

Chris

dkmurphys (79209) 2010-07-02 6:15

that's an amazing view. A splendid place, absolutely incredible. I like your composition, the people like explorers trying to decipher the mystery. Well done, excellent image.

humayun (3129) 2010-07-02 9:08

hi dear...........
very nice image with great and intresting place...........
pov is nice with nice shapness..........
weldon...........
tfs.........

ikeharel (114477) 2010-07-04 6:40

Kalispera Hercules,
A beautiful amazing blue-cave , taken with good lighting that made lot's of blue shades.
Interesting note as well.
Cheers
Ike

Cricri (176) 2010-07-04 6:59

Hi Hercules
Une image qui me fait penser aux grottes de Dwejra � Malte, des couleurs spectaculaire et merveilleuse, tr鋊 belle composition
Good sunday
cricri

mkamionka (75015) 2010-07-06 1:47

Hi Hercules,
very impressive capture. Excellent POV allowed a perfect composition: you could include a large part of the opening and its reflection in the frame and yet you could avoid direct sunlight. You did a fantastic job with exposition, it was very hard to balance this strongly contrasted scene.
The couple in the boat adds a romantic touch.
Wonderful place and photo,
M