Mount Parnitha (Parnes)

What I can see

Parnes or Parnitha is the highest mountain in Attica (1.413 metres). It covers an area of approximately 300 square km and is an ideal place for hiking on smooth as well as rough terrain, but also for mountain biking. The Mont Parnes casino is located on one of its peaks and can be accessed by cable car. Moreover, Mount Parnitha has monasteries, chapels, sacred caves and important monuments, such as Filis Castle. The paths west and northwest of the palace of Tatoi stand out for their natural beauty and are visited by many hikers and nature lovers. Lovers of climbing will also love the mountain: http://www.athensclimbing.com/

What I can't see

Parnitha is a mountain of outstanding natural beauty and, since 1961, a protected national park. It belongs to the NATURA 2000 network and is home to 1,116 plant species and subspecies, the most important of which are pines and firs. 300 million years ago, Attica was at the bottom of the sea. In Parnitha, we find the oldest rocks of Attica along with fossils of protozoa, corals, and other marine organisms. The natural terrain (canyons, plateaus, meadows) favours a rich fauna of 158 bird species, 39 mammals and 29 reptiles as well as the largest surviving population of red deer in Greece. The pressure exercised by human activity on its ecosystem has contributed to the extinction of certain species (brown bear, wolves, wild boars). In the summer of 2007, a massive fire destroyed much of the park. This national tragedy mobilized many organizations and volunteers to work for the park’s protection. Parnitha is home to 45 continuously-flowing springs, some of which supply ancient Eleusis and Athens with water in ancient times (via Hadrian’s aqueduct) and more recently, the Kolonaki reservoir.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6-qOmwlMRTc&ab_channel=TrekkingHellas

 

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