Athens Marathon Lake

Location: Marathon

The Lake of Marathon is an artificial lake at a distance of about 45 km from the center of Athens. It serves as a water reservoir that supplies the city with drinking water.

The dam was constructed from 1926 to 1929 to cover the growing needs of the capital for water after the huge immigration wave that followed the Asia Minor War (1919-1922). This was the sole water supplier of Athens until 1959 when water was pulled from Iliki Lake, close to the town of Thebes.

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The American company Ulen&Co was selected to construct the dam, a 54-meter-tall and 285-meter-long gravity dam. The reservoir has a maximum depth of 54 meters and is used to cover the water supply needs of Athens.
At the time of its construction, the Marathon Dam was a major symbol of modernization for Greece. It is situated about a 10-minute drive from where the Marathon Battle took place, signifying the connection of the future with the past and was built with high-quality Pantelic marble, the same material that was used in the Parthenon.

The workers have built a replica of the Athenian Treasury in Delphi at the base of the dam. This initiative symbolizes the victory of Athens over one of the city's perennial problems - water scarcity.

The lake blends harmoniously with its natural surroundings, creating a magnificent scenery that inspires the residents of Athens for weekend excursions.
Above the dam, there is a coffee restaurant offering amazing views of the scenery.