Experimental High School of Mytilene of the University of the Aegean Erasmus+ Project: FourGeoParkS Arouca, Portugal, March 12th to 17th What is a Geopark Geoparks are areas with great geological, archeological, ecological, historical and cultural interest. The Network of European Geoparks Lesvos In the Northern Aegean The entire island of Lesvos was declared as a geopark in 2012. «….. Nowhere else, in no other place in the world, the sun and the moon reign in such harmony or justly share their powers, as on this piece of land where once, who knows, when, in a majestic moment, some God, to please himself, cut and let this elm leaf go drifting in the sea» Written by the nobelist Odysseas Elytes about Lesvos in his book “Theofilos the Painter” 2000: The establishment of the first geoparks The original idea sprung from four countries. They all had areas of great geological interest but which were relatively poor and not often preferred as touristic destinations. These four countries were: France and the “Reserve Geologique de Haute-Provence” Germany and the “Vulkaneifel”, Greece and the “Petrified Forest of Lesvos” Spain and the “Maestrazgo Cultural Park” Lesvos as a Geopark - Geology The Geopark of Lesvos is a unique place as here are revealed important evidence of the geological history of the Aegean basin for the last 300 million years. Lesvos is strewn with significant geological monuments and landforms such as: Volcanoes and Volcanic Rocks in Calderas Caves and Gorges Hot Springs and Waterfalls, Important Fossil Sites, Fossils of Plants and Animals Coastal Geosites and a Long Coastline which are important withnesses to the Aegean basin’s geological history. Volcanoes and Volcanic Rocks in Calderas Olympus Tectonic Window beyond Stone Houses Antissa Fault Volcanic Domus of Moni Ipsilou Columnar lavas of Pelope The gorge was created at the northwestern side of the Caves and Gorges volcanic crater of Vatoussa, a huge volcano with a diameter of more than 8.5 km. The Vatoussa volcano is connected to the main volcanic activity on Lesvos that occurred 18.5 to 17 million years ago and contributed to the creation of the Lesvos Petrified Forest. Spilios, the cave of Antissa The largest cave in western Lesvos. In Spilios operated the famous oracle of Orpheus, a famous ancient musician. According to the legend, in the area of Antissa, Orpheus’ head and lyre (ancient musical instrument) where washed out, after he was killed and dismembered by the Maenads, who threw his body in the Thracian Sea. Voulgaris Gorge -Vatoussa Hot Springs and Waterfalls At Lesvos Geopark there are about 20 waterfalls. Man' Katsa Waterfall Pessa Waterfall Not far beneath the surface of Lesvos there are still large concentrations of hot magma. These act as vast heaters, warming water which penetrates the crust to a considerable depth. When it approaches the magma chamber, the meteoric water is heated and comes up through the surface of the Earth via thermal springs. The most important thermal springs on Lesvos are at Polichnitos, Lisvori, Thermi, Therma at Geras gulf, Polichnitos Hot Springs Eftalou and Argenos. Important Fossil Sites, Fossils of Plants and Animals Fossil of cinnamon leaf Fossil of oak leaf Section of a trunk Standing Petrified Trunks Coastal Geosites and a Long Coastline Achladeri – Kalloni Gulf Panagia Krifti - Plomari Fykiotrypa - Mytilene Lesvos as a Geopark - Flora and Fauna Variety of Flora & Fauna : water ecosystems forests of coniferous and deciduous - hardwood Lesvos as a Geopark – Cultural Heritage Castle of Molivos St. Ermogenes, a small coastal church Pottery and Ceramics at Agiasos Panagia of Petra Evolution of the Aegean Sea Lesvos Geopark provides information even for the early stages of evolution of the Aegean, when at that time there was a big ocean, the Tethys. The Tethys was an ocean for hundreds of millions of years. The ocean of Tethys closed and was completely destroyed 45 Citation: http://wesphelan.com/tag/tethys-sea/ million years ago. This is the pre-history of geology when the world was one big piece of land and how, in millions of years, the continents started splitting up. Lesvos Geopark provides information even for the early stages of evolution of the Aegean, when at that time there was a big ocean, the Tethys. The Tethys was an ocean for hundreds of millions of years. The ocean of Tethys closed and was completely destroyed 45 million years ago. Lesvos is located in the East Aegean Sea and is one of the biggest islands of Greece, actually it is the third biggest . One can find mountains, plains and coasts. The climate is Mediterranean, though millions of years ago the climate was tropical. Geological History of Lesvos At the same time, in the central Aegean there was a mythical land area called Aegiis, which was united with both the Asia Minor hinterland and continental Greece. The Geopark of Lesvos was part of this single land area which was covered by dense tropical – subtropical forests. 21,5 to 16,5 million years ago in the northeastern Aegean, intense volcanic activity created the major volcanic centers and the impressive volcanic structures in Lesvos Geopark, which led to the creation of the Petrified Forest of Lesvos. Geological History of Lesvos The volcanic activity led to the creation of large volcanoes, such as those in Lepetymnos, Vatoussa, Anemotia, Agra and Mesotopos. Volcanic eruptions shook the area of modern Lesvos. But the volcanoes were not only cause for destruction, since their activity led to the creation of important geosites and rocks. Lesvos Geomorphology Ophiolites Part Limestone Part Central Lesvos Eastern Lesvos Volcanic part North-western Lesvos Slate Part South – Eastern Lesvos The island is divided, according to its rocks, in four areas The north western area, where the petrified forest is located, consists of lava rocks , volcanic ashes and pyroclastic materials. That is why it is mostly barren (without vegetation). Lesvos Geomorphology Volcanic part North-western Lesvos Lava Paths The central part which is mostly ofiolithes and it is mainly covered by pine forests. It is really very interesting to see how vegetation changes according to the rocks underneath . There is usually a clear-cut line between forests and olive trees Lesvos Geomorphology Ophiolites Part Central Lesvos Pine forests grow on ophiolites This varient between pines and olive trees is caused by the existence of different rocks. The way that the ophiolites took shape The south eastern part consists of slates (schists) and is covered by forests Lesvos Geomorphology Slates (Schists) Part Slates (Schists) South – Eastern Lesvos Chestnut forest The eastern part is covered by limestones and marbles and it is an area mainly covered by olive trees and orchards. Lesvos Geomorphology Limestone Part Eastern Lesvos Larsos Fault The petrified forest is The petrified forest located in the western Location part of Lesvos. It was formed 20 million years ago and it is a unique monument of nature. Smaller petrified trunks can also be found scattered in other areas of the island. Creation Intense volcanic activity Plants and animals were covered with lava and ashes Mud Carbon atoms of the organic matter were replaced by the silicon ones Fossilization Sequoia Protopefkides (Coniferales) other genera Fruits, leaves, seeds, roots and pollen Sequoia About 20 million years ago there was intense volcanic activity in the northern Aegean. In central Lesvos, eruptions resulted in immense volcanic structures. Plants and animals were covered with lava and ashes. The rain that fell immediately after the eruption, created mud, which isolated them from the atmosphere. In this way, the organic matter wasn’t decomposed, but was turned , molecule by molecule, into inorganic . If you are into chemistry, what actually happened was that trees were petrified due to silicon dioxide which was dissolved in the lava. The carbon atoms of the organic matter were replaced by the silicon ones and in this way the fossilization was carried out. The petrified forest The petrified trunks appear with vivid colours, in shades of red, yellow, green, brown and black. Most of the petrified trees maintain their standing position and have not been transported (autochtonous petrified forest). Standing trunk in the Petrified Forest Park Lying trunk in the Petrified Forest Park The petrified forest Excavation of a standing trunk with impressive shades of green Lying petrified trunk What you can see here is various types of vegetation then and now. For example. This is how a sequoia leaf is now and this is how it was 20 million years ago •Sequoia • Protopefkides (Coniferales) •other genera •Fruits, leaves, seeds, roots and pollen. The Natural History Museum of the Lesvos Petrified Forest Nissiopi is a tiny island in the west of Sigri and is part of the wider area of the Petrified Forest. The Nissiopi’s Park includes a network of geotopes which are located in the coastal and marine zone of west Lesvos. Hundreds of petrified logs with vibrant colours, either lying or standing, have been discovered throughout the islet. On the west side of the island the waves have revealed giant conifers (ancestors of today’s sequoias) and angiosperms. The density of petrified logs on this island makes it unique. Nissiopi island in the west of Sigri located in the coastal and marine zone of west Lesvos. Lying petrified trunks on the seashore of the Nisiopi Park The Natural History Museum of the Lesvos Petrified Forest was founded in 1994 aiming to the study, research, promotion, exhibition, conservation and protection of the Petrified Forest of Lesvos. The Museum is located in the small and picturesque village of Sigri in western Lesvos, in the center of the protected area of 150 000 hectares of the​​ Petrified Forest, a protected natural monument with worldwide recognition.