Among the many wonderful offerings and specialties of Ikaria are of course the ancient, hot thermal springs, of which there are several on the south side. You can find reports about them on endless sites on the Internet, where you can find out about everything from photos and scientific papers.
At this point just a brief summary of the most important points and a few experiences: The thermal springs have been known since ancient times. They are considered the world’s strongest radioactive brine sources and contain, among other things, sulfur, sodium, radium and radon. It is interesting that the composition of the healing water, which comes from the earth at 45 – 60 degrees, varies from beach to beach.
The healing effect is particularly effective for osteoarthritis, neuralgia, skin problems (eczema, psoriasis, allergies) and lung problems. There are wonderful stories about taxi drivers who drove people who were full of eczema to Therma and picked them up after 3 weeks. Hopefully it’s true!
Since I met a professor of hydrology from ETH Zurich with some of his students in Leukada, where they were doing their studies, I have been more calm about entering the radioactive water. I was finally able to ask an educated, competent, neutral person about the danger in my language. Contrary to many rumors that keep circulating, it is actually the case that 80% of the radium/radon is excreted within one hour through sweating and exhalation, and the rest within 24 hours. The amount is therefore absolutely harmless.
Report by Edith Bühler Jud
Ursula’s Insider Tip:
A visit to the springs is an unforgettable experience and at the same time the feel-good value is priceless!!! The skin feels baby-soft for the next two days and you feel a pleasant warmth throughout your body. Followed by a meal in a cozy little tavern, a visit to the thermal springs becomes the perfect day trip, especially if you drive from Armenistis
The beach of Lefkada, unconfined hot springs in the sea
Therma, the Apollon spring and the hammam
The Apollon bathhouse with private tubs and the hammam with a sweat cave and two small swimming pools are visited by many older Greek people between June and October. From a distance Therma looks very pretty. However, there are many dilapidated houses in the village interior. Nevertheless, I like to go to Therma, to swim on the beach, where you can feel the warm currents, or to the hammam. Continue reading…
The thermal spring of Agia Kyriaki
The spring is located just behind the airport, i.e. north of it below the old, unpaved road that leads up to the windmill at the top of the pass. A small harbor, a few dilapidated houses between the bushes… Of course, as is so often the case in Ikaria, nothing is marked at all, so it is, in a sense, an insider tip. I have no choice but to show you the way using a few photos. Continue reading…