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Lake Kremasta is the largest artificial lake in Greece. The lake is located on the borders of Aitoloakarnania and Evrytania.The construction was completed in 1965 and waters come from four rivers: Acheloos, Agrafiotis, Tavropos and Trikeriotis. The water that is accumulated in the artificial lake is about 4.750.000.000 m³.There are two bridges over the lake Tatarna and Episkopi.
Video by: Andreas Koutsothanasis
I was 10 when my family came from San Francisco to Kremesta Greece in 1963 to help build the dam. We stayed for a year. It was a wilderness for me and I loved it. I combed the countryside daily. I found such beautiful sites that they will live in my memory forever though some were probably destroyed by the rising waters. And speaking of rising waters, all of the family photographs that were taken in Greece, including all of the ancient sites and Athen and Corfu, were ruined when my basement flooded. (Lake) Kremesta looks beautiful now. We left before the dam was completed in 1965. My father was an accountant for Kaiser Industries of Oakland, California. I had a summer job counting truckloads of dirt going onto the dam.
I was there too!
I was 8 and in 3rd grade, Mrs Elliott of course.
The village bakery omg. It was such a memorable experience. Our place in camp was below the school house and across from the Hines and Marsh’s.
The trip to Corfu was amazing except I always got car sick!
I’ll never forget the day the news came that JFK was gone.
My family was also there at that time. I was 8 yrs old . You may have known my brother and sister who were 10. We loved living in the camp they set up for the Americans. It was a wonderful place to explore. My father was a mechanical engineer. I believe this was a Kaiser Project, but am not sure. There was civil unrest at the time. Some of the people from, the local village were picketing with signs saying “Americans go home”. We were young kids, so they were nice to us. We would buy Greek bread, which I loved. It has a very different taste, unlike any other bread I have eaten. One of my favorite meals is Moussaka. It takes a bit of time to make, but worth it.
I was there too!
I was 8 and in 3rd grade, Mrs Elliott of course.
The village bakery omg. It was such a memorable experience. Our place in camp was below the school house and across from the Hines and Marsh’s.
The trip to Corfu was amazing except I always got car sick!
I’ll never forget the day the news came that JFK was gone.
Hi .
In 1963 I was 10 years old. I was living in one of the villages near Kremasta . Name of Village was Agios Vasilios. I am remembering visiting your school at Orfano (name of town where your school was located) with our school . Christmas time Your parents (I am sure) as well as other Kaiser workers brought us Gifts from America. I received a football. NFL football. I had never seen a football not being round as we were only exposed to Soccer balls. I thought it was damaged in transit and I was trying to play soccer with an NFL football.) Not easy. 🙂
I immigrated to the USA in 1968. I will never forget my childhood memories and the Kremasta Dam. Thanks for sharing some of your experiences. Great memories …
Thank you for sharing Andreas.
I too was living in Kremasta in 1963. My dad was in charge of drilling and blasting. I was 8 and my younger sibs were 4 and 2.
The house wasn’t finished when we arrived but soon after. We were below the school house. My teacher, the only teacher Mrs Elliott.
I have great memories of camp and exploring the area. Walking over the hill down into the village and getting fresh warm bread from the wood fired bakery. The guy turning the meat over the hot coals.
I’ll never forget when the news came that JFK had died, many upset adults.
We left fall of 1964 as it was starting to feel unsafe and good job offers back home.
Great memories
🙂How amazing and what a small world !!! My brother (NY based) sent me the link.
We come from the bottom of the lake, Agios Vasilios, and was 12 in 1963 ! We may have met in your school. Your teachers organized events with the natives, (us, that is 😊) and we were invited in various celebrations.
Christmas was the one we enjoyed most as you guys gave us gifts !
We moved on with life after we left that beautiful valley, now a stunning lake in the middle of mountain tops. We have photos to share from the 60’s before the lake covered the villages.
Would be nice to exchange photo files.
Thank you for the postings and for sharing these touching memories; all the best for 2022.
(Tried to add eMail / LinkedIn…not accepted. Look up my linked, search for Spiro Serpanos)
Thank you for sharing Spiro!