Agios Nikolaos located 65 km east of Heraklion, built on the west coast of the Gulf Mirabello. It’s the capital city of the prefecture Lassithi, but it has not the urban character of big cities, and is the most developed and organized tourist town of the island.

The famous lake of Agios Nikolaos is the most famous attraction of the city and landmark for residents as well as the city center is built around it. Since ancient times the lake was connected with legends, the oldest said that in the lake bathed the goddesses Athena and Artemis, while a younger one said that the lake had no bottom, reputation that fostered by the departure of the Germans in 1945 leaving in the lake part of their equipment and vehicles without subsequent findings. Later the rumor was confuted by Jacques Yves Cousteau who identified the seabed at 64 meters. The latest myth linked the lake to the volcano of Santorini following disturbances that occurred at the surface during the eruption of 1953, and the vertical walls which mentioning crater, myth which loses ground as nowadays believed that the lake is the exit of an underground river.

The lake is surrounded by cafes and restaurants where you can relax looking at ducks which swim in the calm waters, and let your imagination bring to life myths.