Pleistos

Pleistos Xeropotamos
Lower Pleistos river and valley from Delphi on the north slopes, with the Gulf of Itea in the background, and Mt. Cirphis in the foregound.
Etymology	"full [river]" in an ironic sense, as it is mainly and usually empty on the surface, due to its underground channels. Xeropotamos, the local name, is "dry river."
Native name	Πλείστος (Greek)
Location
Country	Greece
Physical characteristics
Source
• location	Mount Parnassus
Mouth
• location	Gulf of Corinth at Kirra
• coordinates	38°25′42″N 22°27′13″E / 38.4282°N 22.4535°E / 38.4282; 22.4535
Length	approx. 16.4 km (10.2 mi)
Basin features
Tributaries
• right	Kouvassina or Couvassina

The Pleistos (Greek: Πλείστος, Ancient Greek: Πλεῖστος, Latin: Pleistus) is a river in central Greece. It drains the Pleistos valley, named after it, a relatively recent rift valley north of the Gulf of Corinth, and parallel to it. They have the same geologic causes. Being situated in karst topography, much of the river runs or seeps through underground channels. The surface stream is intermittent. However, the limestone riverbed reflecting the light gives the appearance of a stream of water.

The semi-arid valley floor, too inaccessible for urban development, is eminently suitable for dendriculture. Extensive olive groves, nicknamed the "sea of olives," have been in place since prehistoric times. The floor is flanked by precipitous elevations, notably a scarp on the north side. The primary access road to the valley runs on the side of the north scarp throughout its entire length.

Near the lower valley the road intersects the site of ancient Delphi. Oracular temples have existed there since Mycenaean times. The spring system at Delphi drops into the Pleistos. The lower valley was a seat of Mycenaean power, with capital at Krisa. The Gulf of Corinth was then named the Gulf of Krisa, but in early classical times the states of southern Greece combined to remove Krisa from its predominance in the region.