The Lepida Gorge ( el, Φαράγγι Λεπίδας) is a natural formation of
Mount Parnon
Parnon or Parnonas ( el, Πάρνων/Πάρνωνας) or Malevos (Μαλεβός) is a mountain range, or massif, on the east of the Laconian plain and the Evrotas valley. It is visible from Athens above the top of the Argive mountains. The wes ...
, located in the region of
Arcadia
Arcadia may refer to:
Places Australia
* Arcadia, New South Wales, a suburb of Sydney
* Arcadia, Queensland
* Arcadia, Victoria
Greece
* Arcadia (region), a region in the central Peloponnese
* Arcadia (regional unit), a modern administrative un ...
,
Peloponnese. Despite having a length of only 500 metres, a relatively big waterfall of 70 meters height and a smaller one of 45 meters run through its course.
The waterfalls' springs start from the ''Xirokabi'' plateau, located between the village of
Agios Ioannis and
Malevi monastery. As the river flows down from the plateau to the gorge, it forms little lakes throughout its course.
The first waterfall is located at a distance of 3 kilometers from the village of Agios Ioannis. Access to its base is via a dirt road and after a short hike on a path of about 200 meters. The second waterfall (called "Melissi") is located at a distance of 1.5 km from the village of
Platanos, on the road to Astros and at a distance of 19 km from the latter. It can be reached after 800 meters of walking along the river bed from the nearest highway, going against the flow of the river.
The gorge is ideal for
canyoning
Canyoning (canyoneering in the United States, kloofing in South Africa) is a type of mountaineering that involves travelling in canyons using a variety of techniques that may include other outdoor activities such as walking, scrambling, climbin ...
and
rappelling
Abseiling ( ; ), also known as rappelling ( ; ), is the controlled descent of a steep slope, such as a rock face, by moving down a rope. When abseiling the person descending controls their own movement down the rope, in contrast to low ...
excursions.
Grecorama - The Gorge of Lepida
/ref> An ideal time to visit the place is spring, as the flow of water stops during the summer months.
The old Oria castle is located nearby.
References
{{reflist
Canyons and gorges of Greece
Waterfalls of Greece
Landforms of Arcadia, Peloponnese