Acherontas, path, hiking route

Acheron  is a river in the region of Epirus and crosses the prefectures of Ioannina, Thesprotia and Preveza. The springs of Acheron are many. Its first springs come from the snows of Mount Tomaros in the Prefecture of Ioannina (maximum altitude 1,986m), and its other springs come from the mountains of Souli and the mountains of Paramythia in Thesprotia. Important springs are also those of the village of Vouvopotamos near Glyki. Acheron flows into the Ionian Sea, in the village of Ammoudia in the Prefecture of Preveza, where it forms a delta from which the two main marshes of the area are formed, the marsh of Splantza and Valanidorachi. Acheron due to its tradition and environmental value attracts many visitors from its springs to its estuary. Its length amounts to 52 km while its waters irrigate about 85,000 acres, of which 28,000 are in the Prefecture of Thesprotia and 57,000 in the Prefecture of Preveza. Alternatively, Acheron was also known as Mavropotamos, Phanariotikos or Kamariotiko river.

Mythology
In antiquity, it was believed that Acheron is the river which, according to ancient Greek mythology, was crossed by the "psychopomp" Hermes, delivering the souls of the dead to Charon to end up in the kingdom of Hades. Each soul, passing through Charon's ferry, had to give an obolus for transportation, while the case of Menippus, whom Lucian mentions as the only one who crossed Acheron without paying, is noteworthy[3]. On its way, the river Acheron crossed with Pyriphlegethon and Kokytos, in today's village of Mesopotamos, at the point where the ancient Necromancy of Acheron is located. The jurisdiction of the Necromancy of Acheron was different from that of Delphi and Dodona. Its purpose was not to provide an oracle, but to facilitate the communication of visitors with the souls of their deceased relatives. Acheron, Cocytus and Pyriphlegethon made up the three rivers of Hades, all three with sad names (Acheron = without joy, Pyriphlegethon = fiery, Cocytus = lament) symbolizing the sorrow and lamentations of death and giving the symbolism of hellfire, as it is preserved today in the Christian religion. [2] According to popular tradition, the waters of the river were bitter as a "gnome" (monster) living in its springs poisoned the waters. Agios Donatos (etymological origin from Aidoneus, Aidonatos, Agios Donatos), patron saint of the Metropolis of Paramythia in Thesprotia, killed the gnome and the waters of Acheron became sweet, so the village Glyki got its name. An interesting element from ancient Greek mythology that testifies to its continuity in modern folk tradition is the following: During the battle of the titans, the Titans drank water from Acheron to quench their thirst, which caused the wrath of Zeus, who blackened and bitterened his waters.

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