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Panagiota Maneta, Nefeli Drongiti
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The dam of Anavalos, as described by Pausanias, is closely linked to the worship of Poseidon and the history that follows the area. Anavalos possibly hosted the sanctuary called Genethlion, as according to myth it was there that God himself was born. A characteristic natural phenomenon is that of the swirls - the rapid rotational movement of the water - that surrounds the dam due to the contact between the sweet water and the sea water. The water sources, which came from Stymphalia and the technical lake of Taka in Tripoli, played a decisive role in the irrigation of the region. The sources of Anavalos once enlivened the fields of Argolida, but today they serve modern irrigation needs through a network of 80km long pipelines. However, the excess water from the dam is unsuitable for consumption due to its high salinity, so research is now being carried out in the area to desalinate the water. Thus, the Anavalos dam encapsulates the intersection of mythology, irrigation practice and the environmental challenges of exploiting natural resources for human use.
HydroVortex Institute – Desalination Research Center
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Panagiota Maneta, Nefeli Drongiti
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The desalination research center in Argolis, Greece, is an innovative project that focuses on the treatment of water from the Anavalos Dam. The semi-circular structure over the dam at a height of 4 meters, houses research and public water treatment laboratories, scientific offices, lecture halls, an auditorium, and accommodation rooms for scientists and guests. Furthermore, an important goal is to foster a collaborative environment in which scientists, researchers, and visitors can participate in projects and events promoting sustainability and environmental protection. Moreover, the active engagement of nuns from Osia Makrina, a nearby women's monastery, increases the communal spirit while also encouraging culture and education. The center is also a point of communication with the surrounding areas, such as Nauplion and Spetses as it may be accessed by road or by sea, for the transfer of water. Educational tours and lectures will be offered there, allowing the public to learn about the Anavalos' history and mythology while also witnessing the well-known natural phenomenon of the swirls around the dam.
bibliographic references, credits
Banaka, "The Myths of Water in Argolis," Argolis Archival Library of History and Culture, 14 October 2010
Special Secretariat of Waters, "River Basin Management Plan of the Eastern Peloponnese Water Division," Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, 2013.
Giorgos Antonogiannakis, Papalamprou Vivian, "Water Resources Management Plan of the Prefecture of Argolis.", Athens, 2020.
Georga, Eleni-Niki, "Study of the underwater discharge of groundwater in the area of Anavalos Argolis.", Mytilini, October 2018.
Hellenic Center for Marine Research, Institute of Oceanography (HCMR - ΕΛΚΕΘΕ), "Development of a Field Method for the Study of Submarine Groundwater Discharges in the Coastal Zone Using Radiotracers.", 2019.
all drawings and images ©Coastal Domains, DoAUP, Katsota, D., Drongiti N.P. , Maneta P.
plans of existing building courtesy of the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change
special thanks to Mr. Cornelis Stal , Professor at the Department of Real Estate & Applied Geomatics at Ghent University College for the provision of recording drawings of the building as well as tours of the buildings.