Psiloritis Natural Park
{{Short description|Central Cretan UNESCO Global Geopark.}}
{{Infobox protected area
| name = Psiloritis Nature Park
| alt_name = {{in lang|el}} Φυσικό Πάρκο Ψηλορείτη
| iucn_category =
| photo =Shepards hut nerby Livadia (Crete).png
| photo_alt =
| photo_caption = Traditional shepherds' hut near Livadia
| photo_width =
| map = Greece | relief= yes
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| nearest_city =
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| governing_body = AKOMM – Psiloritis development agency s.a, organization of local government
| world_heritage_site =
| url = [https://www.psiloritisgeopark.gr/ www.psiloritisgeopark.gr]
}}
Psiloritis Natural or Nature Park (Greek Φυσικό Πάρκο Ψηλορείτη){{efn-lr|group=note|The usage is not native English. It translates fisiko parko, which is native Greek, and is used by the Natural History Museum of Crete.}} is a UNESCO Global geopark located in the central part of the island of Crete, in southern Greece.
History
File:Ponor nearby Mygero mountain hut.png close to the Mygero mountain hut (N side of Mt. Ida)]]
Since 2001 the park is member of the European Geoparks Network,{{ cite web | publisher = European Geopark Network | url = http://www.europeangeoparks.org/?page_id=168 | title = Meet our Geoparks |access-date = 2020-03-30 }} which is within the UNESCO Global Geoparks Network.{{ cite web | url = https://www.psiloritisgeopark.gr/en/fysiko-parko-psiloriti-pagkosmio-gewparko-unesco/ | title = Psiloritis Natural Park - UNESCO Global Geopark | publisher = psiloritisgeopark.gr |access-date = 2020-03-30 }} It is a local authorities' initiative, managed by the geopark's management committee under the AKOMM Psiloritis S.A.{{cite web | url = http://www.akomm.gr/2/45.html | title = Psiloritis Natural Park | publisher = AKOMM | access-date = 2020-03-30 }} The Natural History Museum of the University of Crete is the scientific advisor of the park.{{cite web | title = Natural History Museum of Crete (NHMC) | publisher = Sitia Nature Park | url = http://www.sitia-geopark.gr/en/the-program/program-partners/natural-history-museum.aspx | access-date = 2020-03-30 }}
Features
File:Steppa carsica di alta quota presso monte Agathias.pngic steppe (Mount Agathias)]]
Psiloritis Natural Park extends on the Psiloritis mountain and its northern foothills till the Cretan Sea. It has an area of 1159 km2. Administratively the park is split into the Prefectures of Rethymno and Heraklion. The headquarters of the park are located at the municipality of Anogeia.{{cite web | url = https://www.psiloritisgeopark.gr/en/the-park/partners/anogia-enviromental-center/ | title = Εnvironmental Education Center of Anogia | date = 2020-03-24 | publisher = psiloritisgeopark.gr | access-date = 2020-03-30 }}
The park aims to conserve natural and cultural heritage of Psiloritis area through promotional and educational activities, as well as sustainable development initiatives like geotourism, ecotourism and agrotourism. Due to its geological features many universities across the world organise field trips for their students to visit the park.{{cite book | title = Natural and Cultural Landscapes: The Geological Foundation - Proceedings of a Conference, 9-11 September 2002, Dublin Castle, Ireland | author = M. A. Parkes | publisher = Royal Irish Academy | year = 2004| pages = 293 | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=msFOAQAAIAAJ&q=psiloritis | access-date = 2020-03-29 }} Among the geological protected features of the park there are many caves, included the Idaean Cave.{{cite news | url = http://www.piemonteparchi.it/cms/index.php/parchi-nel-mondo/item/3316-psiloritis-il-geoparco-del-giovane-zeus | author = Filippo Ceragioli | date = 2020-01-16 | newspaper= Piemonte Parchi | title = Psiloritis, il geoparco del giovane Zeus | language = it | access-date = 2020-03-30 }} The caves, as well as other relevant features of the park, are connected to the Karstic nature of the Mount Ida massif.{{cite book | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=Q9FOAQAAIAAJ&q=Psiloritis | title = Géochronique | pages = 14 | author = AA.VV. | publisher = Bureau de recherches géologiques et minières | language = fr| year = 2007 | access-date = 2020-04-01}}
See also
{{Portal-inline|Greece}}
{{Portal-inline|Geology}}
Notes
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Citations
External links
{{commonscat|Psiloritis Natural Park}}
- [https://www.psiloritisgeopark.gr/ Psiloritis Natural Park]
{{coord missing|Greece}}
Category:Global Geoparks Network members
Category:Protected areas of Greece