NATURE & WILDLIFEEXPERIENCING THE OUTDOORSa quarter of the land is cultivated. Greece is, however, rich in minerals,
with reserves of oil, manganese, bauxite and lignite.
Wildfl owers
Greece is endowed with a variety of fl ora unrivalled elsewhere in Eu-
rope. The wildfl owers are spectacular, with more than 6000 species,
some of which occur nowhere else, and more than 100 varieties of
orchid. They continue to thrive because most of the land is inadequate
for intensive agriculture and has therefore escaped the ravages of
chemical fertilisers.
The regions with the most wildfl owers are the Lefka Ori mountains
in Crete and the Mani area of the Peloponnese. Trees begin to blossom
as early as the end of February in warmer areas and the wildfl owers
start to appear in March. During spring the hillsides are carpeted with
fl owers, which seem to sprout even from the rocks. By summer the
fl owers have disappeared from everywhere but the northern moun-
tainous regions. Autumn brings a new period of blossoming.
Herbs grow wild throughout much of Greece and you’ll see locals
out picking fresh herbs for their kitchen. Locally grown herbs are also
increasingly sold as souvenirs and are generally organic.
Herbs in Cooking
is an illustrative
book by Maria
and Nikos Psilakis
that can be used
as both an iden-
tification guide
and a cookbook
for Greek dishes
seasoned with
local herbs.NATIONAL PARKSNational Parks were fi rst established in Greece in 1938 with the creation of Mt Olympus
National Park and followed quickly by the establishment of Parnassos National Park.
There are now 10 national parks and two marine parks which aim to protect the unique
fl ora and fauna of Greece.
Facilities for visitors are often basic; abundant walking trails are not always main-
tained and the clutch of basic refuges is very simple. To most, the facilities matter little
when compared to nature’s magnifi cent backdrop.
Most of the parks are surrounded by buff er zones protecting an inner wilderness
area. Some activities, such as grazing, woodcutting, camping and fi sh farms, are permit-
ted in the buff er areas, but no activities other than walking are allowed in the protected
area. If you have the opportunity, it’s well worth experiencing the wild side of Greece in
one of these settings.
» Mt Olympus National Park (p 276 ) – Home to Greece’s tallest mountain, rich
flora and considered the home of the gods
» Mt Parnitha National Park (p 134 ) – Very popular wooded parkland north of
Athens; home to the red deer» (^) National Marine Park of Alonnisos (p 651 ) – Covers six islands and 22 islets in
the Sporades and is home to monk seals, dolphins and rare birdlife
» (^) Parnassos National Park (p 212 ) – Towering limestone and scenic views down to
Delphi
» (^) Prespa Lakes (p 282 ) – One of Europe’s oldest lakes, steeped in wildlife and
tranquillity
» (^) Samaria Gorge (p477) – Spectacular gorge in Crete and a refuge for the kri-kri
(Cretan goat)
» (^) Cape Sounion (p 131 ) – A cape with panoramic views and home to the Temple of
Poseidon
» (^) Vikos-Aoös National Park (p 308 ) – Excellent hiking with caves, canyons and
dense forest
» Bay of Laganas (see At Loggerheads, p 701 ) – An Ionian refuge for loggerhead
turtles
» Iti National Park (p 221 ) – Tranquil stretches of forest, meadows and pools.
Home to eagles, deer and boar