The Aliakmon River crosses western and central Macedonia for about 297 km. It rises on Mount Grammos, near the border with Albania, and reaches the Aegean Sea in the Thermaic Gulf, west of the mouth of the Axios River. On the way it passes through the areas of Kastoria and Grevena, fills the long reservoir of Lake Polyfytos, and flows close to the town of Veria. Visitors come to raft where the Venetikos river joins it near Grevena, to walk by its lakes, and to watch birds in the Aliakmon delta, which is part of a national park. Each summer, a large music festival takes place on its banks at the village of Nestorio.
Geography
The Aliakmon is about 297 km long, and its basin covers about 8,800 square kilometres. It rises at about 2,100 metres on Mount Grammos, near the border with Albania. From there it flows through the regional units of Kastoria, Grevena and Kozani, and then through Imathia and Pieria. One of its tributaries, the Venetikos, joins it near Grevena.
Dams hold the river back in more than one place. The Polyfytos dam is 112 metres high and created Lake Polyfytos, a reservoir of about 74 square kilometres, in 1974. A road bridge 1,372 metres long crosses the lake near the town of Servia. Further down, a smaller dam near Veria forms the lake of Agia Varvara. The river ends in the Thermaic Gulf, in a delta of about 40 square kilometres.
Activities
Rafting takes place where the Venetikos river meets the Aliakmon, near the town of Grevena. The usual run is about 8 km long and is graded 2 to 3, depending on the season and the water level. It passes large plane trees and sandstone rocks, with stops for swimming. Rafting centres are based around Grevena, including one in the village of Felli, about 15 minutes from the town, and trips run all year.
At the village of Nestorio, near the source, the River Party is held on the banks of the Aliakmon in late July or early August. It is a music festival of several days, and tens of thousands of people camp by the river for it.
Nature & Outdoors
The Aliakmon delta belongs to the Axios Delta National Park, created in 2009, together with the mouths of the Axios and Loudias rivers. Nearly 300 kinds of birds have been recorded in the park, among them Dalmatian pelicans, flamingos and herons. A birdwatching tower at Nea Agathoupoli, on the Aliakmon side of the park, gives raised views over the wetland.
Upstream, the lake of Agia Varvara lies a few kilometres from the town of Veria, in a narrow gorge between the Pieria mountains and Mount Vermio. Its banks are used for walks and hiking. Along the upper river near Grevena, large plane trees grow by the water, and otters, herons and cormorants live there.
Practical information
Getting there
The river is long, so the place you want to visit decides the route. The rafting base at Felli is about 15 minutes by car from the town of Grevena. The lake of Agia Varvara is a few kilometres from Veria. The delta is reached from the coast of Pieria, south-west of Thessaloniki. A car is the practical way to reach all of them.
When to go
Rafting runs all year, but the grade changes with the water level, so ask the operator before you book. For birds in the delta, go from April to mid-June or from mid-August to October, when migrating birds pass through. From November to March, large flocks of ducks, geese and flamingos spend the winter there. The River Party at Nestorio takes place in late July or early August.
Good to know
The minimum age for rafting is usually seven years, depending on the river conditions. In the delta, go early in the morning, when the birds are most active, and bring binoculars. The national park has an information centre with maps and news of recent sightings. The long bridge over Lake Polyfytos has had traffic limits after safety checks, so check the road before you plan a route across it.
