Beautiful national parks in Greece
Greece’s long coastline, numerous islands and sparsely inhabited and craggy centre offer a huge diversity of ecosystems and outstanding biodiversity
The country took steps to recognise and protect its biodiversity back in 1938 with new laws prohibiting exploitation – and this also resulted in the creation of the first national parks around Mount Olympus and Mount Parnassos.
The National Park of Mount Olympus
It was created on its highest mountain and symbolic home of the gods, and retains a unique position in the country’s psyche as a place of great archaeological, historical and ecological importance. The area of around 77 square miles (200 square kilometres) contains 52 peaks, deep gorges, alpine fields and thick forest and is home to some 1700 different species of plant, plus rare tree fossils, 32 mammals including chamois, wolves and wild cats, more than 100 bird species including golden eagle and thousands of insects, notably butterflies. In 1981 Unesco declared it a Biosphere Reserve.
Pindos National Park
This is situated in western Macedonia and Epirus, part of the Pindos mountain range, an isolated region characterised by dense pine and beech forest, high peaks – a few above 6,500ft (2,000 m) – rushing rivers and many springs and mountain lakes. The core of the park covers the Valia Kalda valley and the slopes of the surrounding peaks and is characterised by dense forests of black pine and beech.
The deserted area – there is no human habitation and no one is permitted to stay after sunset – is one of three in the country that is home to Eurasian bears. Other animals found in the park include lynx, wild cat and otter, along with 80 species of birds including rare Eastern imperial eagle and golden eagle. Some 400 different types of plants and 86 species of mushroom have been recorded here with a number of local flower types that are considered endemic to the Balkans.
Lake Kerkini
A unique wetland, Lake Kerkini is one out of 10 regarded as having International Importance in Greece. It was created in 1932 when the first dam was constructed on the waters of the river Strymon. Today it is home to a huge number of fresh fish, water buffalo and 300 rare and protected bird species including eagles, buzzard, pelican and owls that live and breed here.
White Mountains National Park
Created around The Samaria Gorge in southern Crete, the longest gorge in Europe, White Mountains National Park descends 10 miles (16km) from an altitude of 3,900ft (1,200m) down to Ayia Rouméli, a small village on the shores of the Mediterranean Sea. The park, heavily forested in pine and cypress, is a haven for more than 450 species of plants – 70 of which are endemic to the island – and many animals including the kri kri, a local species of wild goat whose survival was one of the main reasons for the park’s creation in 1962.
Greece also boasts two major national marine parks in Alónissos and Zákynthos.
Alónissos Marine Park
Founded in 1992 Alónissos Marine Park remains one of the largest protected marine areas in Europe covering more than 770 sq miles (2,000 sq km). Apart from the sea, the park includes the main island of Alónissos, six smaller ones adjacent (Peristéra, Kyrá Panayiá, Psathoúra, Pipéri, Skántzoura and Yioúra) and 22 small islets.
The undisturbed area offers an ideal habitat for many rare species of fauna and flora while the many caves along the coastline provide the ideal environment for the Mediterranean monk seal.
Zákynthos Marine Park
Situated in the south of Zákynthos, the third largest island in the Ionian, this is one of the most important sea turtle nesting areas in the Mediterranean and a haven for monk seals. The park covers around 35 square miles (90 square kilometres) of water plus the beaches around the Bay of Laganás and a zone of land adjoining them, the wetland of Kerí Lake and the two small Strophádes islands.
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