Imagine an entire village swallowed by a lake in 1979 suddenly reappearing – like a real-life Atlantis story. That’s exactly what’s happening in Greece as the Mornos Reservoir, critical for Athens’ water supply, drops to alarming levels amid soaring temperatures and booming tourism.
The partially visible ruins of Kallio village are a ghostly reminder of what’s at stake: Greece’s water reserves have shrunk by 30% in two years, with the Mornos Lake alone losing nearly 4 square kilometers of surface area since 2023.
“This isn’t just about drought – it’s about changing weather patterns,” explains water management expert Dimitrios Emmanouloudis. Less snowfall in recent winters means less meltwater to replenish reservoirs, while half of Greece’s population in Athens faces growing supply risks.
Popular islands like Mykonos and Santorini are already rationing water, raising tough questions about balancing tourism (which brings 33 million visitors annually) with sustainability. Could this crisis reshape how we travel?
