Springs and fountains of Andros
It was not chance that brought the first tourists to Andros during the
19th century: they came here because of the reputation of the mineral
water and its curative powers. Since 1841 Fiedler reports seven springs
on Andros which had proven restorative powers. In 1902 an Andros
historian D. Paschalis, raised this number to ten and he was the first,
together with Professor Christomanos, to carry out chemical analysis on
some of these springs from 1884.
The most famous spring on the island, Sariza, is found at Apikia, in the
centre of village. The beautiful fountain is of unknown date. However,
the beneficial qualities of the spring water have been known since long,
long ago. The water is diuretic and is believed to cure kidney ailments
and stomach problems. Analysis of the water shows that it contains
carbon salts of sodium, calcium and magnesium and chloride salts of
potassium, sodium, magnesium, aluminium and silicon oxide. The spring
water is bottled and is sold all over Andros, as well as the rest of
Greece.
The spring Zannakis is found at Menites. The water here is mildly
alkaline and it also contains iron. It is an excellent, light table
water. During the 19th century the spring water of Zannaki and Agia
Irini were exported to Athens, Smirni and Constantinople, using clay
containers. Two kilometres north of Apikia there is the church of Agia
Irini . Within its grounds exists another, lesser known spring, with
water to rival that of Sariza, and it has a similar composition.
The Pertenia is found at Mesa Vouni. The water here is exceptionally
light and has a lovely flavour. It takes its name from the belief that
the water can disperse kidney stones. A private analysis made on this
water showed that the conductivity of the water is hardly 6, perhaps the
lowest in all of Europe.
Andros really is covered with springs and fountains. It is impossible to
determine the exact number, but there are dozens of them. Some have
stone surrounds, others more humble in design and they continuously
supply villages and settlements with water to irrigate the farms, even
meeting housewives' laundry demands and until fifty years ago the water
turned the watermills of the island. Some of them are mentioned on the
pages relating to the towns and villages as well as the page about the
footpaths.
THE RAVINE OF PITHARA
The ravine at Pitharas is found about ten minutes' walk from Apikia. The
footpath which leads there is flat and covered in ivy, preparing one for
what is to follow. The plentiful water rushes rapidly into the verdant
green landscape, creating waterfalls and lakes which abound with aquatic
life. Rare species of plants and wild flowers are found growing along
the whole riverbed. A little further down, the largest working water
mill in the Balkans was to be found from 1863 up until1936.
REMATA
Remata is a small and picturesque village found between Katakoilos and
Arni. The village is crossed by the Arnipotamos River which descends
from the Petalo mountain and flows into the bay at Lefka. The
Arnipotamos, which starts its journey in torrents, deep in a densely
wooded channel, becomes more gentle as it reaches the village. For its
entire course it creates waterfalls and ponds suitable for swimming and
supplies abundant streams which irrigate the farmland of the area. It
has plenty of aquatic life with eels, crabs and in some places, fresh
water mussels. At its highest points, near to Arni, some rare species of
butterflies are found in the spring. In former times the Arnipotamos
supplied numerous watermills, one of which is the Lebesi family
watermill, which is very well maintained up to this day. From this
watermill a footpath starts which follows the river, crossing the
village and reaching, at its estuary, the graphic and deserted bay of
Lefka.
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