[2][3] The dam is named after Nikolaos Plastiras, a Greek general and politician who was the first to visualize the construction of a reservoir in the Agrafa area as early as 1925.

In the late 1920s, the idea of "constraining" the river flow was adopted by the incumbent Minister for Agriculture, but was met with opposition by both his political rivals and locals.

Numerous studies on the project were presented and in 1953 the French Omniun Lyonnais won the international contest for the construction of the Dam.

[2][3] The dam and the formed reservoir protect both the mountainous region of East Agrafa and the Plains of Karditsa from flooding.

The benefits of the lake as a tourist attraction are so significant that the authorities have decided to limit the use of the reservoir for irrigation and electricity production.