The artificial lake of Zaros or Votomos is located on the southern slopes of Psiloritis, 45km southwest of Heraklion.
It is a lovely place to visit for a picnic or to eat at one of the cafés right on the water, especially good to cool off during summer heat.
Until 1987, there was just a small wetland formed by the cavity of the Votomos spring on the site of the lake.
It acquired its current form in 1987, when the Forest Service revived the area and created an artificial lake where the waters of the spring are retained.
