Digital Exhibition

Ο επισκέπτης του Πάρκου του Απολιθωμένου δάσους μπορεί να γνωρίσει το Δάσος των Πρωτοπευκίδων, των πρόγονων των σύγχρονων πευκοδασών της Λέσβου διασχίζοντας την διαδρομή «Περπατώντας στο δάσος των Πρωτοπευκίδων».

Μια περιπατητική διαδρομή μήκους 556μ που ξεκινάει από την δεξαμενή ύδρευσης και φτάνει στο αναψυκτήριο, διασχίζοντας τα σημεία με μεγαλύτερο υψόμετρο στο Πάρκο, δίνει τη δυνατότητα στον επισκέπτη να γνωρίσει συστάδες απολιθωμένων κορμών πεύκης, στην φυσική τους θέση. Ανάμεσά τους βρίσκονται και οι δύο ιστάμενοι κορμοί που αποτελούν τον ολότυπο του είδους. Πρόκειται για τα απολιθώματα από τα οποία προσδιορίσθηκε το συγκεκριμένο είδος για πρώτη φορά στην επιστημονική βιβλιογραφία.

Ορισμένοι κορμοί πρωτοπευκίδων διατηρούν όλα τα χαρακτηριστικά γνωρίσματα του πεύκου. Υπάρχουν ιστάμενοι απολιθωμένοι κορμοί, με ύψος που ξεπερνάνε τα 2 μέτρα και 1,50 μέτρα περίμετρο, φέρουν στην επιφάνειά τους έντονα χρώματα. Αποκαλύπτονται μέσα από ορίζοντες ηφαιστειακής στάχτης που τους σκέπασαν και οδήγησαν στην απολίθωσή τους, κατά τη διάρκεια των ηφαιστειακών εκρήξεων που σημειώθηκαν στην περιοχή πριν από περίπου 20 εκατομμύρια χρόνια.

The Petrified Forest Park in Bali Alonia is the first outdoor park to visit the Petrified Forest. It was created in 1987 and since the 18th century the area has been referred to as “Main Petrified”.

Visiting the Park area is a unique experience. The abundance of standing petrified trunks, as well as their excellent state of preservation, impress all its visitors.

In the Petrified Forest Park, the systematic excavation research carried out by the Museum of Natural History of the Lesvos Petrified Forest has brought to light many plant fossils, among which is the tallest standing fossilized tree trunk known to date, not only for Lesvos but with certainty for the whole of Europe.

Its height is 7.02 meters and its circumference is 8.58 meters and it is the ancestor of the modern Sequoia tree.

During the excavations carried out by the Museum of Natural History of the Petrified Forest of Lesbos, many parts of fossilized plants (fruits, leaves, branches, roots) have also been uncovered, which are exhibited in the Museum’s rooms.

During your tour you can admire the unique appearances of Protopekids, which form small clusters and are the ancestors of the modern Pine.

Most fossilized trunks belong to the Taxodiaceae family, which are ancestral forms of the modern Sequoia species that grows on the west coast of the United States. This family also includes the largest standing trunk of a Coniferous tree (with a length of more than 20 meters) as well as the large standing trunks of Sequoia.

For the convenience of visitors to the Park, three thematic routes have been created, which allow a better acquaintance with the fossils.

At the Museum of Natural History of the Lesvos Petrified Forest you can find the outdoor guide for visiting the Petrified Forest Park at Bali Alonia, with detailed information on all the fossil sites and routes.

Sigri Park was created on an area of 3 hectares  and is located next to the facilities of the Natural History Museum of the Lesvos Petrified Forest. It includes important plant fossils and impressive samples of the volcanic rocks that cover the broader area.

It is an extremely important geosite due to the rarity and great scientific value of the plant fossils which provide information both on the volcanic rocks and the geological evolution of the area.

While walking along the  pathsways  the visitor can admire the most important findings of the site, the petrified roots of fossilized trees that are preserved in full growth proving that the trees were fossilized in their natural position.

Impressive standing fossilized trunks of angiosperms and coniferous trees (Pinoxylon paradoxum, Pinoxylon sp., Pinus sp.) with unique colors and an abundance of fossilized twigs, leaves and cones of special scientific value emerge from the layers of volcanic ash that surround them. The visitor can also admire large sections of petrified trunks that have been transported to the site for safekeeping.

Plaka Park was created by the Museum of Natural History of the Lesvos Petrified Forest on an area of 70 acres on the small peninsula of the same name. The area is an important fossil site.

In the two parts of the Park, from the research work of the Museum of Natural History of the Lesvos Petrified Forest, important plant fossils have been uncovered, mainly root systems and lower parts of trunks that make up a geotope of rare natural beauty.

In Plaka Park, pine trees and a wide variety of fruiting plants (angiosperms) have been identified, which do not appear in such a wide variety in any other terrestrial location, thus composing the landscape of the vegetation on Lesvos 20 million years ago. Plant fossils corresponding to the present-day pine (Pinuxylon and Pinus), cinnamon and laurel trees (Laurinoxylon, Cinnamomum polymorphum, Dafnogene polymorphum), poplar (Populoxylon), sycamore (Platanoxylon) and palm trees (Palmoxylon) have been identified.

Today, 46 excavation sites of petrified trees can be visited. Most fossilized trunks are found standing, i.e. in the natural growth position of the trees.

Among the finds is the giant petrified trunk (No. 1), 13.7m in circumference. and 3.70 m in diameter, which is – according to the data of the world literature – the largest standing fossilized trunk in the entire world. In the coastal area of the Park, the particularly impressive fossilized tree trunk, 14m long, dominates.

The mountain range of Ordymnos dominates the western peninsula of Lesvos, with its highest peak reaching 634 meters, the volcanic dome of the Ypsilos Monastery, which with its conical shape is one of the most characteristic volcanic dome of Lesvos.

The volcanic dome was formed in the last phase of volcanic activity, 16.5 million years ago, and is the largest of a series of volcanic domes arranged along a large tectonic rupture running from north to south.

Its creation is associated with a rise of magma that moved at low speed, penetrated the earlier metamorphic rocks of the bedrock, clouded the layers of pyroclastic formations that covered the area and created a giant dome without causing a volcanic eruption. The magma cooled and solidified at a relatively shallow depth and the erosion of the pyroclastic rocks that surrounded it revealed the more resistant volcanic rocks, which form the present landscape of the region.

On the northern side of the hill, impressive columnar lava forms appear, which were created due to the rapid cooling of the igneous material.

At the top of the volcanic dome, in the place of an older fort and Byzantine friary, is built the Monastery of Agios Ioannis the Theologian. Tradition places the foundation of the monastery in Byzantine times, before 800 AD. and is known as the High Monastery.

The volcanic vein of Eresos, located near the settlement of the same name, is a characteristic volcanic landform created by the latest volcanic activity on Lesbos, which began 17 million years ago.

The volcanic structure was formed through the intrusion of fluid magma, into pre-existing volcanic rocks that were created during the main phase of volcanic activity. Fluid magma moved to the surface through faults (the discontinuities in the crust), where it solidified from the loss of energy, creating the volcanic structure we see today dotting the volcanic landscape.

The rocks that surrounded the volcanic vein were eroded over geological time, while the solidified magma, being more resistant to erosion, created the landform that we observe on the Eresos – Sigri rural road, which looks like a solid stone wall separating two pastures.

One of the most impressive volcanic domea of Lesvos is the Portos volcanic dome, which rises imposingly on the Mesotopou-Eresos provincial road near the Pythariou Monastery. It is a dome-shaped hill with steep slopes. The volcanic rock forms impressive intense and dense fissures that create successive prismatic pillar-like forms.

It was formed by fluid magma that penetrated the crust along a rift running E-W and which appears today as a volcanic vein of great thickness. The magma moved upward at low speed, penetrated the older metamorphic rocks of the basement of Lesvos about 300 million years old, obscured the older volcanic formations in the area and created a giant dome without causing a volcanic eruption.

The volcanic structure was created in the last period of volcanic activity on Lesvos 16.5 million years ago. It is the largest of a series of volcanic structures that occur in the same area. The magma cooled and solidified at a relatively shallow depth from the surface. The erosion of the pyroclastic rocks that surrounded the volcanic rocks revealed the impressive dome that dominates the area today.

Along the Skalochori – Vatoussa provincial road, spherical forms of disintegration can be found in the volcanic rocks of the area.

It is the result of chemical weathering and mechanical fracture of rocks, which appears as peeling of their outer layers.

This landform is also called the onion-shaped form of disintegration, precisely because it resembles the structure of an onion.Due to the cooling of the volcanic material and the exogenous forces that act on the rocks (moisture, temperature change, etc.), they cause the chemical disintegration of the rocks. This process causes the formation of concentric spherical layers on the surface of the rocks, which are observed today in the area.

The Filia volcanic vein is located along the Kallonis – Skala Eresou provincial road, near the settlement of Filia, and is an impressive volcanic structure created by the latest volcanic activity on Lesbos, 17 million years ago.

The volcanic structure was formed through the intrusion of fluid magma, of a dacite composition, into pre-existing volcanic rocks that cover the wider area. Fluid magma moved to the upper parts of the crust and the surface, through faults (tectonic openings in the crust), where it solidified from the gradual loss of energy.

The rocks surrounding the solidified magma were removed through erosion over geological time, creating the landform that crowns the hill above the settlement of Filia.

In the area of Leimonos Monastery, along the provincial road Kallonis – Sigriou, imposing rock formations appear, which the action of water, in cooperation with wind erosion and temperature changes, sculpted into wax figures.

These are forms of erosion of volcanic rocks. The rocks that surrounded these vertical rocks were eroded, while those more resistant to erosion were slowly revealed and emerge imposingly today.The “Candles” are an impressive creation, which nature has been continuously evolving for millions of years, just like the “Candle”, the rock that rises immediately after.

The passage of time in cooperation with the processes of disintegration and erosion have left in the nature of Lesbos both impressive and strange structures, remnants of the intense volcanic activity that prevailed 21.5 – 16.5 million years ago in Lesvos.

Among the provincial road Pelopi – Ypsilometou, there are the impressive columnar lavas of Pelopi, which look like natural pillars, placed next to each other

Their creation is linked to the volcanic activity that occurred in the area, 21.5-16.5 million years ago and more specifically to the Lepetymnos volcano, the largest volcanic center of Lesvos.

The impressive geological structure is due to the rapid cooling of a lava flow, of dacite composition, that erupted from the volcanic structure of Prophet Elias.As the fluid material rose at low speed towards the earth’s surface, it cooled rapidly inside the volcano, causing multiple parallel fissure systems to develop throughout its volume.

Along these cracks, the rocks separated and formed impressive pentagonal or hexagonal prisms, which appear today and characterize the landscape of the area.

The large rock of Panagia, which dominates the center of the settlement of Petra, is a volcanic structure called a volcanic neck.

Vents are tube-like conduits that channel fluid magma to the surface of the earth connecting them to the magma chamber, which is located inside the earth’s crust and feeds a volcano.

The volcanic neck of Petra, on which the church of Panagia Glykofiloussa was built, is a lateral volcanic conduit, which was fed with andesitic lava by the underground magmatic chamber of the Lepetymnos volcano.

The rocks that surrounded the volcanic neck were eroded after the end of the volcanic activity, while the andesitic lava, being more resistant to erosion, created the great rock of Petra.

Lepetymnos, the highest mountain of Lesvos, is the largest volcano of the island. Its high peaks, Prophet Elias and Vigla are two large volcanic structures that were created 17 million years ago, when thick lava erupted in the center of the great caldera of Northern Lesvos.

The volcanic history of Lepetymnos is particularly long. Volcanic activity in the area began 22 million years ago and slowly through successive volcanic eruptions and magma effusions a large stratovolcano was created. 18 million years ago a huge eruption destroyed the volcanic cone and in its place created a large volcanic caldera, which stretches from Molyvos to the area of Petsofas in Kalloni.

The volcanic activity continued, and inside the large caldera the two volcanic buildings of Prophet Elias and Vigla were created, with an altitude of 938 and 968 meters, respectively.In Lepetymnos, in addition to rich geodiversity, we find a special ecosystem characterized by rich biodiversity. A special feature is the presence of impressive wild horses that live freely on the slopes of the volcano.

Lepetymnos, the highest mountain of Lesvos, is the largest volcano of the island. Its high peaks, Prophet Elias and Vigla are two large volcanic structures that were created 17 million years ago, when thick lava erupted in the center of the great caldera of Northern Lesvos.

The volcanic history of Lepetymnos is particularly long. Volcanic activity in the area began 22 million years ago and slowly through successive volcanic eruptions and magma effusions a large stratovolcano was created. 18 million years ago a huge eruption destroyed the volcanic cone and in its place created a large volcanic caldera, which stretches from Molyvos to the area of Petsofas in Kalloni.

The volcanic activity continued, and inside the large caldera the two volcanic buildings of Prophet Elias and Vigla were created, with an altitude of 938 and 968 meters, respectively.In Lepetymnos, in addition to rich geodiversity, we find a special ecosystem characterized by rich biodiversity. A special feature is the presence of impressive wild horses that live freely on the slopes of the volcano.

An impressive image of intrusion of volcanic material into grayish limestones belonging to the oldest metamorphic rocks of the background of Lesvos, appears in the area of Pagani, at the exit of Mytilini.

Specifically on the walls of the old limestone quarry we see a volcanic vein of greenish lava penetrating thick stratified crystalline limestones, 250-300 million years old.The volcanic vein does not reach the surface as it can be seen that it is covered by the last superficial layer of limestone. It was created during the most recent volcanic activity on Lesbos, which began 17 million years ago.

Liquid magma moved to the surface using a crack and formed the volcanic vein. However, due to the loss of energy, it failed to reach the surface and create a surface flow of fluid magma, resulting in the solidification of the volcanic material where we see it today.

In a short distance from the settlement of Antissa is the cave Spilios of Antissa, which is inextricably linked to Greek mythology, as it was the place of worship of Orpheus in ancient times.

The cave is opened in a hill made of limestone rocks that are about 298-251 million years old. The limestone elevation emerges from among the newer volcanic rocks that surround it and reveals the particularly intense tectonic activity of the area.

The factors that contributed to the creation of the cave were tectonic action and karst erosion. The karst formation is created by the movement of water within the tectonic zone of a large tectonic fault in the limestone rock.

The entrance of the cave, which has an opening of 10 meters wide and 12 meters, is called “Chaos” by the locals, and is easily recognizable and visible from the Kalloni – Sigri road.

Inside it are observed prehistoric traces of human presence, as well as two mudstone constructions.

According to Greek mythology, the head of Orpheus washed up on the shores of northern Lesvos and was carried by the inhabitants into the cave, where it functioned as a sanctuary, which continued to provide prophecies, thus making the oracle of Orpheus well-known in the ancient world.

In Western Lesvos, between the settlements of Vatoussa and Antissa, the valley of the Voulgaris river is created in a part of which the impressive gorge of Voulgaris appears.

The area of the Voulgaris valley has been opened up in the volcanic formations of the Vatoussa volcano which is connected to the main volcanic activity of Lesvos, about 18 million years ago. The intense tectonics of the area created large faults that affect and fragment the volcanic rocks.

The creation of the gorge  is due to large geological faults that cross the volcanic cobblestones that appear in the area. The water of the Voulgaris River follows the fragmented fault zone and erodes deeply at high speed creating an impressive ravine and steep rocky sides. The action of water erodes the volcanic cobblestone formations and creates impressive landforms.

The area of the gorge is a protected area and an ideal place for birdwatching, and is included in the NATURE 2000 network, as many rare birds find refuge there. Furthermore, the importance of the area results from the existence of a significant breeding population of the species: Eagle-hawk (Buteo rufinus), Black stork (Ciconia nigra), Dendrocopos medius, Emberiza cineracea, Golden eagle (Falco biarmicus), Kestrel (Falco naumanni) ), Puffin (Puffinus yelkouan) etc.

The Tsiknias gorge is located a few kilometers North-East of the settlement of Arisvi and was formed by the erosion of the water, the river of the same name, which passes over the traces of large geological faults, with direction NW-SE and NE-SW.

Tsiknias is one of the largest intermittent streams of Lesvos. The stream drains a catchment area of about 90 km2 that occupies the southern slopes of the Lepetymnos volcano and includes most of northern and central Lesvos. The river bed has a general direction of flow NE-SW, while shortly before its mouth in the bay of Kalloni it turns to N-S.

The river flows exclusively volcanic formations from 21.5 to 17 million years old. When it meets the alluvial plains around Kalloni Bay, it flows Quaternary alluvial deposits, consisting of cobbles, sands and clays.

The valley of Tsiknias and the wetlands that form at its estuary are a habitat for birds, which live either seasonally or permanently along its bed, and mainly at its estuary. The river bed in the spring and when the waters calm down from the rains, is an important refuge for many migratory species: Common grebes, Sandpipers, Little herons, Porphyro herons, Nightingales, and also small birds such as ptarmigans, grebes, swallows, etc. Countless pairs of Nightingales nest here along with bee-eaters, Black-throated Shrikes, Common Pipits, Water Hens, while White Storks and Black Storks look for food throughout the summer. At the point of its estuary seabirds, waterfowl and waterfowl such as Mediterranean Gulls, Flamingos, Egrets, Cormorants, Sandwich tern, Common greenshank etc. take refuge all year round.

The fault of Antissa is located a few kilometers South-West of the settlement of the same name, and cuts the volcanic rocks of Skamioudas hill. The fault is recognized by the large morphological step, created by the action of the fault through successive seismic events.

Faults are structures that are created when the stresses that develop in the Earth’s crust exceed the strength limit of the rocks, causing them to break.

On the mirror surface of the fault, impressive slip lines appear, which are witnesses to the movement of the fault. These lines, which appear as scratches on the rocks, are the marks left by the opposite movement of the two parts.

The Antissa fault is part of the deformation structures of Lesvos related to the great dextral fault of Anatolia and the intense seismic activity of the North Aegean.

The fault of Agia Paraskevi is one of the largest and most impressive tectonic structures of Lesvos. The fault that affects the volcanic rocks of the area is easily recognized by its smooth mirror surface, the surface created by the action of the fault that broke the rocks. The mirror surface of the fault is visible along the ring road of Agia Paraskevi.

The fault of Agia Paraskevi is a large dextral fault of horizontal displacement, which runs through the central part of the island, from North to South. The fault is linked to the devastating earthquake of 1867, with a magnitude of 6.8 R.

On the mirror surface of the fault, impressive slip lines appear, which are witnesses to the movement of the fault. The horizontal slip lines, which appear as striations, were created by the friction of hard grains during the opposing movement of the two blocks.

The successive families of lines on the surface of the fault reveal that the fault has been activated several times by successive earthquakes that occurred in the same area.

The bare summit of Olympus opens a window into the geological history of Lesvos and reveals one of the most impressive images of Lesvos, a tectonic window.

But how was this impressive geosite of Lesvos created?

Intense forces in the earth’s interior 120-160 million years ago moved the rocks from the Tethys ocean floor, the ophiolites, and placed them on top of the oceanic sediments that accompanied the oceanic plate (metamorphic rocks).

The forces were so strong that all together they were moved and placed on top of the rocks of the continental area (recrystallized limestones) that existed in that geological period, where today it is the area of Olympus.

On Mount Olympus, through the ophiolites and metamorphic rocks, the lower geological layers appear to surface today, i.e. the white to ash, sugary and sometimes pinkish recrystallized limestones that make up the impressive summit of Mount Olympus.

Around the dominant peak of Olympus, an extremely rich vegetation grows consisting of chestnuts, pines, apples, walnuts and olive groves. The mountain massif of Olympus is included in the Natura 2000 Network, while the area is characterized as a botanical garden of the Aegean, due to the wide variety of endemic plants

The Larsos fault, with E-W direction, is one of the active faults of Lesvos. It is evidence of the recent geological changes that shaped the current form of the relief of Lesvos by forming the marshy areas of the Evergetoulas river delta.

Faults are created when the stresses developed in the rocks of the earth’s crust exceed the strength limit of the rock, causing them to break. In this way, a relative movement and displacement of the two pieces of the crust, on either side of the fault surface, is created.

The faults create a strong morphological relief on the surface of the earth and appear as steep morphological surfaces on which the smoothed, by friction, surface of the fault can often be distinguished.

Characteristic is the steep morphological terrace and the impressive mirror surface of the Larsos fault, with smoothed surfaces on which the traces of the tectonic slip of the submerged piece have been engraved. These are characteristic lines (marks) that show the direction of the relative movement of the two blocks that moved due to the seismic activity in the area.

The fault of Larsos was created when the section on which the road axis Mytilini – Kalloni passes today, came down in relation to the other one, which is today the characteristic hill “cut” by the fault, of the area.

Recently, the Ephorate of Antiquities of Lesbos has discovered archaeological evidence in the area, possibly linked to a strong earthquake that took place in the area during the 8th century BC.

During the Roman period, a water transport channel was carved on the surface of the Larsos rift, which is part of the 27 km long Roman aqueduct that starts from the outskirts of Mount Olympus and carried water for the water supply of Mytilene.

In the area of Lambou Myloi, the impressive thrust of the tectonic cover of the ophiolitic rocks, about 150 million years old, appears, on top of the metamorphic rocks of the background of Lesvos.

Ophiolites are a group of igneous rocks created by the eruption of magmatic material originating from the earth’s mantle, during the process of removing the continents and creating the ocean floor. The ophiolitic rocks of Lesvos come from the oceanic space of the Tethys ocean, which extended south of Eurasia. 150 million years ago the ocean was constantly expanding and new ophiolitic rocks were created by magma seeping in between the two great continents of Laurasia in the north and Gondwana in the south. The rocks that compose this group consist of peridotites, dunites, gabbros, basaltic lavas, pillow lavas, etc.

150 million years ago the two mega-continents begin to converge resulting in the compression and destruction of the Tethys Ocean. The rocks that formed its ocean floor were compressed, emerged and placed on the margin of the Eurasian lithospheric plate, hundreds of kilometers away from their point of creation.

Today, in the area of Lambos Myloi, the ophiolites are placed over slates and marbles that are 250-300 million years old. The pine forest of central Lesvos grows on the ophiolitic rocks, while the olive groves of the region grow on the metamorphosed rocks.

The impressive change of vegetation from the olive groves to the pine forest can be seen on the road axis Mytilini – Kalloni, in the area of Lambou Myloi.

The small peninsula of Fykiotrypa forms the eastern end of the small hill on which the Castle of Mytilene is built.

In ancient times, the area was a small island cut off from Lesvos, with which it was separated by a small sea channel. The area is covered by lake sediments aged 1.8-5 million years (Pliocene – Pleistocene). Specifically, it consists of fresh water marly limestones, which contain fossils of invertebrate organisms such as gastropods, laminar gills and ostracods. The northern coast of the area is delimited by an important geological fault running E-W, which ends in the small peninsula of Fykiotrypa.

The action of the fault becomes visible on its smoothed surface, which intersects the geological layers of the rocks of the peninsula at the location of Fykiotrypa. In particular, on the smoothed surface of the fault, slip lines can be seen that testify to the movement that took place on it.

At the top of the small peninsula is the lighthouse of Fykiotrypa. It is a monument as it is one of the few surviving lighthouses that were built during the eighth decade of the 19th century, and is included in the Greek Lighthouse Network and has been declared a preserved monument by the Ministry of Culture.

At the site “Tambakaria”, north of Mytilene, there is a characteristic appearance of lake sediments, aged 1.8-5 million years. Lake sediments occur all along the eastern coast of Lesvos from the area of Kratigos to Tokmakia.

The layers of sediments can be observed along the coasts, but even along the road axis Mytilini – Thermi.

The lacustrine formations consist mainly of freshwater marly limestones, with layers of sandstones, cobbles, whitish marls and clays, with a thickness exceeding 60 meters. Fossils of invertebrate organisms such as gastropods, laminar gills and ostracods are found within the lake formations.

The lake sediments were formed when Lesvos was part of a single continental area, Aegis. At that time, the sea retreated to the South, resulting in the creation of lakes in the Northern and Central Aegean, including the lake of Mytilene.

The geological formations bear witness to the large lake that existed in the area of the sea, between Lesvos and the coasts of Asia Minor.

In the area of Ligona in Petra, on the western slopes of the Lepetymnos volcano, the largest volcanic center of Lesbos, impressive columnar lavas  appear side by side.

These are volcanic structures created during the cooling process of liquid magma, from the development of successive cracks inside the volcanic rock, which result in the formation of an array of polygonal prisms that have the form of columns.

The prismatic lava columns of Ligona were created during the rapid cooling of lava flows, of a dacite composition, that erupted 18 million years ago from the Lepetymnos volcano. When fluid magma reached the surface, flows of incandescent magma were created that moved up the volcano’s slopes.

The magma cooled rapidly resulting in the creation of multiple parallel cracks throughout the volume of the rock. Along these cracks, the rock separated forming impressive pentagonal or hexagonal natural pillars that we observe today creating impressive ensembles in the valley of Ligona.

One of the most impressive volcanic structures of the western peninsula of Lesvos is the impressive Skalochori volcanic structure. It is located north of the settlement of the same name and is the hill on which the church of Prophet Ilias is built.

Its creation is associated with the sudden cooling of liquid material, which came from the magma chamber, inside the Earth, about 17 million years ago.

As the magma moved to the surface at low speed, it penetrated the 300-million-year-old metamorphic rocks of Lesvos’ bedrock, clouded the area’s older volcanic formations, and created a giant dome without causing a volcanic eruption.

The magma cooled to a relatively shallow depth and was exposed through the erosion of the rocks surrounding the volcanic material, creating the impressive dome that dominates the area today.

Near Polichnitos, at an altitude of 60 meters, on the banks of the Almyropotamos, the hot springs of Polichnitos spring up. These springs are characterized as the hottest springs in Europe, as the temperature of the water at the gushing points reaches 87.6°C. The high temperatures can be justified as the temperature of the water in the subsoil, at this point, reaches 400°C.

The gushing of the springs is due to geological faults that appear in the area. Through the fragmented rocks along the fault it is facilitated the penetration of water deep into the crust. There it meets the still hot magmatic chambers of the volcanoes of Lesvos that were active for 16 million years, as a result of which it is heated and enriched in minerals and gases. The gases then increase the pressure, and help it return through the fault surfaces to the surface and erupt as hot springs.

All the hot springs of Polichnitos are chlorinated. In relation to sea water, the sodium chloride of the hot springs is three times less. But it is believed that there is some mixing of this water with sea water up to about 30%.

The intense yellowish and red colors that appear in the rocks in the area of the eruption are due to the precipitation of iron oxides, such as limonite and hematite.

On the North-Eastern coast of the gulf of Geras, at a distance of 8.5 kilometers from the city of Mytilini, the hot springs of Therma gulf of Geras appear.

The springs emerge at the base of the steep slope created by the fault system of the Gera Bay, in Neogene sediments that include layers of clay and sandstone. At the point of the hot springs, the NW-SE faults, which delimit the eastern side of the gulf, are intersected by the younger faults of the Larsos rift zone with NE-SW direction. The water moves through the tectonic surfaces, descends to a depth of 2.5 kilometers, is heated, and then rises and gushes out at the Therma site.

The water temperature is 39.7°C and the source is defined as sodium chloride. Water contains ammonium chloride, sodium bromide, potassium nitrate, calcium chloride, magnesium chloride, etc.

The old facilities date back to the time of the Turkish occupation and are perfectly preserved to this day. Today, a modern hydrotherapy center operates in Therma and provides high quality services.

To the east of the Kalloni bay, near the settlement of Vasilika, is the impressive Pessa waterfall.

The waterfall is created due to faults that affect the ophiolitic rocks of the area, as well as the smooth flow of the “Makris” stream, which originates from the northwestern foothills of Mount Olympus, creating intense terraces in the relief. The waters of the waterfall fall with a rush, from a cliff about 15 meters high. Due to the momentum of the water, during the fall, a vortex is created in the flow, resulting in the deepening of the bed and the creation of a natural pond.

Then the water continues its course towards the bay of Kalloni, where it empties, near the beach of Agios Pavlos.

In the North-Eastern part of Lesvos, a few kilometers south of the settlement of Mandamados, is the “Man’ Katsa” waterfall, one of the most famous and easily accessible waterfalls of the island.

The waterfall is created by the sharp discontinuity of the rocks, along a large fault. The cliff from which the waters of Aspropotamos fall with speed, rises to 15 meters, the swirling of the water creates a natural deepening at the point of the fall, forming a natural pond.

The area is covered in volcanic rock and the waterfall is created on an extensive outcrop of ignimbrite, a volcanic rock formed 17 million years ago, after a violent eruption of the Lepetymnos volcano. The tectonic action caused the rocks to fragment and create large faults that created tectonic terraces. The erosion of the rocks that followed created today’s impressive landform of the Man’ Katsa waterfall.

In the northwestern part of Lesvos, between the settlements of Skoutaros and Lafionas, is the impressive waterfall Lakkos Koukougias.

The creation of the waterfall of Skoutaros is due to the action of faults that affect the volcanic rocks of the area, and more specifically the older lavas, of andesitic composition that cover the valley, lakkouyas. The waters of the stream, with periodic flow, come from the mountainous massif “Chorevtra” (699m.).

They encounter the rift that creates a terrace and plummet off a cliff about 10 meters. Due to the momentum of the water during the fall, a vortex is created that creates a natural depression at the point of the fall, called the “cauldron of giants”.

North-west of the Kalloni bay between the settlements of Anemoti and Parakoila, is the Potamia waterfall, impressive in beauty.

Its waters originate from the mountainous massif of Prophet Ilias (799m.), on whose slopes grows the unique black pine forest. Among the dense black pine forest, the unique in Greece, but also in Europe, riverside plant communities with rhododendron (Rhododendron Luteum) thrive, as well as peonies (Paeonia mascula) (Peonia the Romalea) and the large fern called “Osmunda the basilisk” (Osmunda regalis).

The waterfall is created due to the discontinuities of the volcanic rocks that are affected by the faults in the area and shift the bed of the stream. The stream of Potamia continues its course and empties into the gulf of Kalloni.

In the Western peninsula of Lesvos, between the settlements of Pterountas and Chidira, is the small but impressive waterfall Vathylimnos.

Its waters originate from the mountainous massif of Prophet Ilias (799m.), on the slopes of which grows the only black pine forest on the island. Among the dense black pine forest, the unique in Greece, but also in Europe, riverside plant communities with rhododendron (Rhododendron Luteum) thrive, as well as peonies (Paeonia mascula) (Peonia the Romalea) and the large fern called “Osmunda the basilisk” (Osmunda regalis).

The waterfall is created across the discontinuities of the faults, which run through the wider area, where they affect the smooth flow of the stream. The stream continues its flow towards the lower altitudes, where it feeds the Voulgaris River, which empties into the northwest coast of Lesvos.

In the Western part of Lesvos, between the settlements of Khidera and Eresos, in the Methalia stream is the homonymous, impressive, double waterfall.

The waterfall is created due to faults that affect the volcanic rocks of the area, specifically the andesitic lavas. The Methalia stream originates from Lefkorrachtis (578m.). The cracks create terraces that interrupt the smooth flow of water. The waters of the stream form two successive steps, where the momentum of the water during its fall creates two natural depressions at the point of fall, forming natural ponds.

Along the Methalia stream, a continuous flow of water is observed throughout the year. For this reason, a water mill was built in the place of the waterfall, which in the past ground wheat produced in the area.

Then, the Methalia stream continues its course crossing the gorge of the same name, which was cut through volcanic rocks and joins the Chalandra river, which ends in the artificial lake of the Eresos dam in the area of the Pythariou Monastery.

Στην Ανατολική Λέσβο, 4 χιλιόμετρα Βορειοδυτικά της πόλη της Μυτιλήνης, βρίσκεται το λατομείο γκρίζου μαρμάρου της Μόριας, το οποίο θεωρείται ένα από τα σημαντικότερα λατομεία της Λέσβου, αλλά και του ευρύτερου Αιγιακού χώρου.

Οι κρυσταλλικοί ασβεστόλιθοι είναι από τα παλαιότερα πετρώματα και εμφανίζονται σε πολλές περιοχές της νοτιοανατολικής Λέσβου. Πρόκειται για πετρώματα που σχηματίσθηκαν κατά τη γεωλογική περίοδο του Τριαδικού, πριν από 200-250 εκατομμύρια χρόνια, από ιζήματα που αποτέθηκαν στο περιθώριο του ωκεανού της Τηθύως, του ωκεανού που κάλυπτε την περιοχή της σημερινής Νότιας Ευρώπης και Βόρειας Αφρικής. Στους κρυσταλλικούς ασβεστόλιθους, στην περιοχή της Μόριας, έχουν διατηρηθεί εντυπωσιακά απολιθώματα ασπόνδυλων (Megalodon).

Το λατομείο καταλαμβάνει μια έκταση μήκους 200μ., πλάτους 120μ. και 30μ. βάθους, σε ορισμένα σημεία, καθώς και εννέα εξορυκτικές κοιλότητες.

Η λειτουργεία του λατομείου χρονολογείται κυρίως κατά τη Ρωμαϊκή περίοδο, καθώς υπάρχουν τα ίχνη των εργαλείων και της τεχνικής λατόμευσης, πάνω στα πετρώματα, τα οποία αποτελούν χαρακτηριστικά στοιχεία της εποχής εκείνης.

Το υλικό εκμετάλλευσης αποτελεί το γκρίζο μάρμαρο ηλικίας 180-240 εκατομμυρίων ετών, το οποίο χρησιμοποιήθηκε για την κατασκευή πολλών μνημείων της αρχαίας Μυτιλήνης, όπως για παράδειγμα, το Αρχαίο Θέατρο, το Ρωμαϊκό Υδραγωγείο αλλά και σε πολλές περιοχές της επικράτειας της Ρωμαϊκής Αυτοκρατορίας. Επίσης, έχουν βρεθεί εκατοντάδες ημίεργα αρχιτεκτονικά μέλη. Το μάρμαρο που εκμεταλλεύονταν οι Ρωμαίοι ήταν γνωστό και ως «Λέσβιος Λίθος» ή «Marmor Lesbium».

In the area of the settlement of Skala Neon Kydonion, impressive lava flows appear along the beach. These are thick ignimbrite lava flows that form tongues of land that enter the sea forming small peninsulas.

The ignimbrite lava flows with their characteristic reddish colors come from a great eruption of the Lepetymnos volcano that took place 17 million years ago and covered almost the whole of Lesvos, as the ignimbrite flows covered long distances and reached as far as Neon Kydonian in the east, Vatera and Makarra in the south and Antissa in the west.Ignimbrite is a volcanic rock, which is created by the solidification of thin-fluid siliceous magma that moves at high speed and contains a large percentage of hot gases, fragments of pumice and other pyroclastic materials.

The gases contained in the magma form bubbles that remain even after the liquid lava has solidified, as empty spaces inside the rock. The fusiform shape they acquire from compression gave them the name “flames”.

The reddish or dark pink color of the rocks is due to the weathering of the hematite contained in the magma.In the coastal part of the ignimbritic flows are observed honeycomb forms of disintegration (tafoni), created by sea erosion, wind, sea spray and temperature changes that cause the expansion and contraction of the metallic mineral crystals, which reduces the cohesion of the rock .

Along the road between the settlements of Pelopi and Ypsilometou, rises the impressive volcanic neck located near the church of Agios Nikolaos Pelopi.

It is a volcanic structure, approximately 17 million years old. It is a lateral volcanic conduit that was fed by the underground magmatic chamber of the Lepetymnos volcano, with dacite lava. The magma rose slowly to the surface without creating a violent volcanic eruption.

Over time, the rocks that covered the more erosion-resistant volcanic materials were eroded, resulting in the creation of the impressive volcanic neck, which characterizes the landscape and geological history of the area.

An impressive volcanic dome, the hill of Prophet Ilias Parakoilon, with an altitude of 800 meters, is the highest peak of the Western peninsula of Lesvos. It is located west of the Gulf of Kalloni between the two volcanic craters of Vatoussa and Agra. It is a volcanic structure that was created during the latest phase of volcanic activity in Lesvos 17 million years ago and is composed of silicified lavas.

Its creation is associated with the rise of magma with an acidic composition, which erupted after the great volcanic eruption of the Vatousa caldera. The magma moved at a slow speed, clouding the older volcanic rocks and creating a giant dome. The magma cooled and solidified at a relatively shallow depth.The silicified lavas create acidic soils that favor the presence of many rare plants such as the yellow rhododendron, which grows only in the area of Prophet Ilias Parakoila in wet places, such as stream banks, in trachea or black pine forests, and an altitude of 60 to 760 m .

The rhododendron is found in small groups consisting of a few individuals, thus meeting the criteria for its inclusion in the category “vulnerability”, according to the IUCN. The rhododendron is protected by PD 67/81 and is included in Annex II of Directive 92/43 and in the global list of species in need of UN protection.

At the South-West end of Lesvos, in the area of Chroussos, is the volcanic dome of Aetos, Chroussos. It is an impressive dome-shaped volcanic hill characterized by steep slopes.

The volcanic edifice of Chrousos is a volcanic dome, the creation of which is linked to the upward movement of magma, which penetrated the volcanic formations. The magma moved upward through a volcanic conduit connecting the magma chamber to the surface. As the igneous material ascended to the surface, it penetrated the overlying andesitic and dacite mantle geological layers, and with the gradual loss of gases, the magma began to lose its strength, solidifying at a shallow depth without causing a volcanic eruption .

Over geological time, the rocks that surrounded the solidified magma were eroded, resulting in the appearance of the impressive structure of Chrousos, which characterizes the landscape