Edessa Waterfalls (Eδεσσα)

Macedonia, Pella Prefecture, Greece

About Edessa Waterfalls (Eδεσσα)


Hiking Distance: < 1km round trip
Suggested Time: 30-45 minutes

Date first visited: 2010-05-29
Date last visited: 2010-05-29

Waterfall Latitude: 40.80324
Waterfall Longitude: 22.05534

Waterfall Safety and Common Sense

The Edessa Waterfalls (written as Eδεσσα in Greek) was the lone waterfall excursion our 2010 visit to Greece.

It was really a series of waterfalls (seven according to the literature though we didn’t see anywhere close to that amount).

Edessa_007_05282010 - Karanos (the Great Waterfall), which was one of the Edessa Waterfalls
Karanos (the Great Waterfall), which was one of the Edessa Waterfalls

These waterfalls consisted of the so-called Great Waterfall (called Karanos) and the Twin Waterfall (called Diplos or Dihalotos) according to the signs and the literature that we picked up during our visit.

It was this multi-waterfall nature of the attraction that prompted my use of the plural in the waterfall name on this page.

Said to fall from a height of 70m in total, the Edessa Waterfalls were definitely the main attraction of the Edessa town.

And in typical Greek style, we knew that we were never far from history so it turned out that the city neighboring the falls was said to be founded since pre-historic times.

However, the current relics of the walled city probably came about since the 4th to 6th century BC.

Edessa_032_05292010 - The footpath going underneath and behind Karanos (the Great Waterfall), which was one of the Edessa Waterfalls
The footpath going underneath and behind Karanos (the Great Waterfall), which was one of the Edessa Waterfalls

According to the literature here, the rushing waters of the river Edessaios might have played a role in reinforcing the protection of the city during its evolution over time.

Julie and I noticed signs for archaeological sites around town.

Thus, we’d imagine that it was such places where it was possible to learn more about the history and evolution of Edessa (though we didn’t get to a chance to visit those archaeological sites).

Given the country’s reputation for having very hot Summers (with a relatively dry Mediterranean climate said to be very much like what we get at home in Los Angeles), it was amazing that this was a rare year-round waterfall with high flow.

Thus, it’s said that even in the Summer, Edessa can be refreshingly cool from the mist generated by the waterfalls.

Experiencing the Edessa Waterfalls

Edessa_016_jx_05292010 - Looking up at the intense spray caused by Karanos (the Great Waterfall) as we tried to make our way down to view Diplos (the Twin Waterfall). Maybe this was a big reason why parts of the walkway were closed
Looking up at the intense spray caused by Karanos (the Great Waterfall) as we tried to make our way down to view Diplos (the Twin Waterfall). Maybe this was a big reason why parts of the walkway were closed

Julie and I visited Edessa in late May 2010 on a year when most of Europe was seeing unusually high rainfall.

So the falls were gushing possibly to the extent that its flow might have been well above average.

This fact made things a bit tricky when we wanted to see more than just the Great Waterfall (Karanos), which itself was very easily accessible with plenty of overlooks and stairs for getting decent views of its main drop as well as getting behind the falls.

However, the footpaths that led directly to the Twin Waterfalls called Diplos were closed during our visit.

Edessa_057_05292010 - Diplos - the Twin Waterfall seen only in profile during our visit as more direct views were closed at the time
Diplos – the Twin Waterfall seen only in profile during our visit as more direct views were closed at the time

So that left us with a rather intensely misty descent down a poison-ivy-lined path full of slippery steps across the base of Karanos and towards a bridge between both Karanos and Diplos.

I got the feeling that the slippery and wet conditions were a result of the high flow thanks to the unusually rainy early Summer that we had experienced on this trip (that said, I wasn’t sure if this was normal flow for late Spring regardless).

Anyways, for the price of getting a serious drenching, the payoff was that I finally got my only glimpse of the Twin Waterfalls from its bottom.

We weren’t sure why the more direct footpath was closed, but I’m sure they’ll re-open at a later date than our visit to spare the soggy adventure.

Edessa_104_05292010 - This was the garden area at the top of the Edessa Waterfalls
This was the garden area at the top of the Edessa Waterfalls

At the very top of the Edessa Waterfalls, it appeared that they diverted part of the stream into an attractive garden complete with mini waterfalls, footbridges, and of course flowers.

Meanwhile, it appeared that other parts of the stream were funneled into channels rushing between buildings as well as a cafe.

Thus, we found plenty of ways to spend a couple of hours or so here even though visiting the waterfalls themselves was pretty quick and straightforward.

Finally, based on some photos that I’ve seen in the literature, the Edessa Waterfalls are apparently floodlit at night.

Edessa_128_05292010 - Looking down towards the brink of one of the Edessa Waterfalls as we strolled around the walking paths nearby some cafes and mills
Looking down towards the brink of one of the Edessa Waterfalls as we strolled around the walking paths nearby some cafes and mills

Perhaps one of these days, we might spend an evening here to witness the effect while also affording us a little more time to visit the historical ruins nearby as well.

Authorities

The Edessa Waterfalls reside in Edessa in the Macedonia Region of the Pella Prefecture, Greece. It is administered by the Municipality of Edessa. For information or inquiries about the area as well as current conditions, visit their website.

Edessa_002_05282010 - Context of the view looking past Karanos towards the scenery beyond at the Edessa Waterfalls complex
Edessa_009_05282010 - Looking directly at Karanos - the Great Waterfall
Edessa_066_05292010 - Walking closer to Karanos and the rest of the descending footpath to experience the Edessa Waterfalls more intimately
Edessa_023_05292010 - Looking out from behind Karanos or the Great Waterfall, which was the largest of the Edessa Waterfalls
Edessa_027_05292010 - The path going behind Karanos for an unusual experience with the Edessa Waterfalls
Edessa_037_05292010 - Looking out towards the hillsides and suburbs of Edessa from behind Karanos and the Edessa Waterfalls
Edessa_021_05292010 - Looking down at the partially overgrown and slippery footpath leading further downstream of Karanos
Edessa_015_jx_05292010 - Looking up at a lot of growth in the mist and runoff from the excess spray from Karanos getting onto the walkway leading to the bottom and to the Diplos Waterfalls
Edessa_052_05292010 - On the channel that connected me from Karanos to Diplos
Edessa_003_jx_05292010 - Looking up at Karanos from the misty bridge at the waterfall's bottom
Edessa_069_05292010 - Looking back towards some kind of mill or turbine beneath the Edessa Waterfalls
Edessa_072_05292010 - Part of the Edessa Waterfalls passing besides a cafe (or taverna)
Edessa_074_05292010 - Looking downstream towards the brink of one of the Edessa Waterfalls
Edessa_082_05292010 - Another look over the brink of one of the Edessa Waterfalls
Edessa_091_05292010 - Heading into a relatively serene garden area above the Edessa Waterfalls
Edessa_108_05292010 - Looking right over the brink of one of the Edessa Waterfalls with some hydro infrastructure down below
Edessa_114_05292010 - Another look from within the attractive garden area near the top of the Edessa Waterfalls
Edessa_121_05292010 - Another look at the attractive garden above the Edessa Waterfalls
Edessa_129_05292010 - The stream literally wrapping around one of the buildings in the area right above the Edessa Waterfalls
Edessa_131_05292010 - Bridges and tables at the cafe above the Edessa Waterfalls


The Edessa Waterfalls reside in Edessa, which is roughly 100km west northwest of Thessaloniki in the Pella Prefecture of Macedonia in Northern Greece.

It took us about 90 minutes to get there while driving along Hwy 2 for most of the way (and this included having to wait for a long time for an opportunity to pass a caravan of large trucks on a busy two-lane highway).

Fortunately for us, there were plenty of signs within Edessa town leading us to the waterfalls so we didn’t have too much difficulty at least getting fairly close to the falls.

Although we weren’t sure if we parked where most tourists would park, we did find street parking in front of a line of shops and vendors as it was relatively quiet on the day we were there.

Nonetheless, there were signs for parking that I’d imagine would provide more space and would be more accommodating for a busier time.

Once we parked, we basically walked towards a park-like area within earshot of the rushing Edessaios River.

From the Tourist Office sitting within the park, we followed the rushing channels downstream past the cafe and ultimately towards the overlooks and walkways leading to viewpoints of Karanos (the Great Waterfall).

For context, Thessaloniki was 541km (5.5 hours drive) north of Athens.

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Long deliberate bottom up sweep of the main waterfall


Right to left L-shaped sweep showing the Edessa scenery further downstream before ending at the top of the main waterfall


Deliberate bottom up sweep from behind the main waterfall


Bottom up sweep from the bridge crossing below one of the cascades beneath the main waterfall showing a hint of the main waterfall itself in the background


Bottom up sweep of the Twin Waterfalls on the other side of the Edessa network of waterfalls


Left to right sweep showing the bridge I crossed beneath the main waterfalls and ending up at the Twin Waterfalls on the other side


Top down sweep of just the Twin Waterfalls


At the brink of one of the Twin Waterfalls looking down towards some hydro schemes in the background

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Tagged with: pella, macedonia, greece, waterfall, northern greece, karanos, diplos, hihalotos, edessaios, mediterranean



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Johnny Cheng is the founder of the World of Waterfalls and author of the award-winning A Guide to New Zealand Waterfalls. Over the last 2 decades, he has visited thousands of waterfalls in over 40 countries around the world and nearly 40 states in the USA.
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