Combined onshore and offshore seismic investigations image fault structure at the geothermal field of Aedipsos-Yaltra, central Greece

Abstract

Vassilis K. Karastathis and Evangelos Mouzakiotis delineated the hydrothermal mechanism associated with a large fault indicating the best exploitation point. The region of Aedipsos in the northern part of Evia island (Euboea), Greece (Figure 1), has been famous for its hot springs since the 4 th -century BC. It is notable that there was an ancient legend claiming that Hercules used to bathe in the hot waters of Aedipsos to renew his strength after his labours. Those springs have also been referred to by ancient writers such as Aristotle, Strabo, Plutarch, Claudius Ptolemaeus. The Roman general Syllas also visited Aedipsos and built public baths at the place. Today the region is a touristic attraction due to its thermal springs. The Yaltra Baths (or Gialtra), situated only 5 km to the west, also have high touristic development based on the local thermal springs. The hot springs of the wider region can be seen in Figure 1. In several sites the temperature of the springs reaches values higher than 40 o C and up to 84 o C (Gioni-Stavropoulou, 1983).