National parks of Greece

Greece is characterized by an extremely fragmented, rugged landscape hosting a great diversity of ecosystems and an outstanding biodiversity. Almost 5% of its extensive coastline consists of ecologically sensitive wetlands. Two thirds of the total population live no further than 2 km from the coast and most of the important urban centers are coastal, while almost all of the tourist infrastructure is divided among islands and the coastal mainland.

Greek climate

Greece's climate is divided into three classes: A Mediterranean climate features mild, wet winters and hot, dry summers. Temperatures rarely reach extremes, although snowfalls do occur occasionally even in Athens, Cyclades or Crete during the winter. An alpine climate is found primarily in Western Greece (Epirus, Central Greece, Thessaly, Western Macedonia as well as central parts of the Peloponnese like Achaea, Arkadia and parts of Lakonia where the Alpine range pass by). A temperate climate is found in Central and Eastern Macedonia as well as in Thrace at places like Komotini, Xanthi and northern Evros; with cold, damp winters and hot, dry summers.

History

Such climatic and biological diversity, along with the rich flora and fauna that comes with it, made the need for the creation of national parks obvious as early as 1937, when the government of Ioannis Metaxas, first issued a law that established national parks in Greece. In 1938 the first national park in Greece was established, the Mount Olympus National Park, followed by the immediate creation of the Parnassos National Park.

The number of Greek national parks has grown ever since to a full number of ten:

Name	Established	Area (ha)	Map	Photo
Ainos National Park	1962	2.862		150px
Alonnisos Marine Park	1992	208.713		150px
Oeta National Park	1966	7.210		150px
Olympus National Park	1938	3.988
Parnassos National Park	1938	3.513
Parnitha National Park	1961	3.812
Pindus National Park	1966	6.927
Prespes National Park	1974	19.470		150px
Samaria National Park	1962	4.850		150px
Sounio National Park	1974	3.500
Vikos–Aoös National Park	1973	12.600
Zakynthos National Marine Park	1999	13.500		150px

Layout

Each national park consists of a core and the area surrounding it. According to Greek Law the core cannot be smaller than 15,000,000 square metres (5.8 sq mi), with the exception of marine national parks. The surrounding area must be larger than, or at least equal to, the size of the core.

In the core of the national park, only scientific research, mild recreational activities, and the acquiring of environment related information are permitted. The creation of menageries, fish farms, the building of roads, outposts, camping and hiking infrastructures, along with woodcutting infrastructures and pastures are permitted in the surrounding area of the national park.