Marathon Dam — Attraction in Municipality of Marathonas

Marathon Dam is the first large dam set up in Greece. It was erected between 1926 and 1929 for supplying water to Athens and Piraeus (was the sole supplier till 1959). The construction of the dam at that period was considered a very complex and impressive engineering project. The dam is located 8 km west of Marathon and 45 km northeast of Athens, and its completion created the Marathon artificial lake at the confluence of the Haradros and Barnava Streams. To create it, a 285-meter-high stone building was constructed of Pentelic marble, a feature that makes it unique worldwide. The dam has a height of 54 m, and a length of 285 m. The water from Marathon Lake is transported to Athens by a 13.4 km-long tunnel (the Boyat Tunnel) that was completed in 1931.

The Marathon Dam was considered a remarkable construction project for its time, symbolizing the modernization of the country. The then Government gave great weight to the completion of its construction as it symbolized the new era of Greece.

On both sides of the dam there are observation porches that allow viewing on both sides of the dam. The dam can be crossed by car, but the crossing is limited to one direction at the same time (controlled by a...

As a tourist, you are very likely to go to Marathon beach, where the famous battle took place, the museum and other sites. Very often from Athens you will come either over mount Pendeli, or from Mesogeia. Make sure you return via Marathon lake, preferably near sunset. An unforgettable experience or at worse a very calm moment in the hubbub of travelling around.

THE BAD NEWS. You are no longer allowed to walk down to the bottom of the damn where they had build a strangely pretty kitch copy of ancient temple in a garden falling romantically apart.

In any case you will want to read Keats or do something metaphysical here. At worse just sit and look at it from the ridiculously...

Lovely place close to Athens ! For its creation, a 285-meter-high stone dam was built, made of Pentelic marble, a fact that is a peculiarity, which makes it unique in the world. It rises 54 meters above the riverbed, while for water intake a special water intake tower was constructed, equipped with water inlet ports at different levels, so as to regulate the depth from which water was taken depending on the season. For example, in the summer the shooting was done from a greater depth, so that the water has a lower temperature, and...