Katafyki Cave

One of the most important attractions on the island is Katafyki Cave at the southeastern end of the settlement of Dryopida. This cave’s galleries were created both naturally (probably by torrents of water) and artificially (by human mining activity, mainly iron mining, from 1835-1940). The stalactite and stalagmite decoration of the cave is noteworthy. Some formations have even been named by the locals (such as ‘jellyfish,’ ‘chandelier,’ ‘octopus,’ ‘little bear,’ ‘embryo,’ and ‘Tower of Babel’). With about 600 meters of corridors, the cave covers an area of 3,500 square meters and has a constant temperature of 17 degrees Celsius.