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 and legislation

The tradition of protected areas in Greece dates back to Ancient Greek times and the Altis and sacred grove at Olympia, amongst other sanctuaries. In more recent times, the country's 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, Law 856/1937 On National Woodland Parks, itself building on the "protected forests" of the Forest Code of 1929. In 1938, the first national park was established, centred on Mount Olympus, followed later in the same year by a second, centred on Mount Parnassus. In 1986, the legal framework was overhauled by Law 1650/1986, Article 19 of which provides for the following types of protected area:

• Absolute Nature Reserves Areas
• Nature Reserve Areas
• National Parks
• Protected Natural Formations, Protected Landscapes and Landscape Elements
• Eco-development Areas

Among the National Parks, according to Article 19 Section 3, where a National Park (εθνικό πάρκο) has a predominantly marine or forested character, it may become a National Marine Park (θαλάσσιο πάρκο) or National Woodland Park (εθνικός δρυμός).

List of national parks

According to the World Database on Protected Areas, as of May 2022, there are 10 National Woodland Parks (εθνικοί δρυμοί), 2 National Marine Parks (θαλάσσια πάρκα), and 15 National Parks (εθνικά πάρκα).

National Woodland Parks

Name	Established	Area (Core Zone)	Area (Peripheral Zone)	Map	Photo	Ref.
Ainos National Woodland Park Εθνικός Δρυμός Αίνου	1962	28.31 km2 (10.93 sq mi)	N/A			[1]
Oiti National Woodland Park Εθνικός Δρυμός Οίτης	1966	34.68 km2 (13.39 sq mi)	38.85 km2 (15.00 sq mi)			[2] [3]
Olympos National Woodland Park Εθνικός Δρυμός Ολύμπου	1938	46.1 km2 (17.8 sq mi)	N/A			[4]
Parnassos National Woodland Park Εθνικός Δρυμός Παρνασσού	1938	37.06 km2 (14.31 sq mi)	N/A			[5]
Parnitha National Woodland Park Εθνικός Δρυμός Πάρνηθας	1961	39.5 km2 (15.3 sq mi)	N/A			[6]
Pindos National Woodland Park Εθνικός Δρυμός Πίνδου	1966	31.54 km2 (12.18 sq mi)	35.15 km2 (13.57 sq mi)			[7] [8]
Prespes National Woodland Park Εθνικός Δρυμός Πρεσπών	1974	51.02 km2 (19.70 sq mi)	210.61 km2 (81.32 sq mi)			[9] [10]
Samaria National Woodland Park Εθνικός Δρυμός Σαμαριάς	1962	47.52 km2 (18.35 sq mi)	N/A			[11]
Sounio National Woodland Park Εθνικός Δρυμός Σουνίου	1974	6.22 km2 (2.40 sq mi)	34.8 km2 (13.4 sq mi)			[12] [13]
Vikos-Aoos National Woodland Park Εθνικός Δρυμός Βίκου – Αώου	1973	32.38 km2 (12.50 sq mi)	95.95 km2 (37.05 sq mi)			[14] [15]

National Marine Parks

Name	Established	Area (Core Zone)	Area (Peripheral Zone)	Map	Photo	Ref.
National Marine Park of Alonnisos, Northern Sporades Εθνικό Θαλάσσιο Πάρκο Αλοννήσου Βορείων Σποράδων	1992	2,301.4 km2 (888.6 sq mi)	N/A			[16]
National Marine Park of Zakynthos Εθνικό Θαλάσσιο Πάρκο Ζακύνθου	1999	104.33 km2 (40.28 sq mi)	37.34 km2 (14.42 sq mi)			[17] [18]

National Parks

Name	Established	Area (Core Zone)	Area (Peripheral Zone)	Map	Photo	Ref.
Amvrakikos Wetlands National Park Εθνικό Πάρκο Υγροτόπων Αμβρακικού	2008	287.63 km2 (111.05 sq mi)	1,522.7 km2 (587.9 sq mi)			[19] [20]
Axios-Loudias-Aliakmonas Delta National Park Εθνικό Πάρκο Δέλτα Αξιού – Λουδία – Αλιάκμονα	2009	337.79 km2 (130.42 sq mi)	N/A			[21]
Chelmos-Vouraikos National Park Εθνικό Πάρκο Χελμού – Βουραϊκού	2009	544.4 km2 (210.2 sq mi)	N/A			[22]
Dadia-Lefkimi-Soufli Forest National Park Εθνικό Πάρκο Δάσους Δαδιάς – Λευκίμμης – Σουφλίου	2006	432.0 km2 (166.8 sq mi)	N/A			[23]
National Park of Eastern Macedonia and Thrace Εθνικό Πάρκο Ανατολικής Μακεδονίας και Θράκης	2008	929.47 km2 (358.87 sq mi)	1.88 km2 (0.73 sq mi)			[24] [25]
Evros Delta National Park Εθνικό Υγροτοπικό Πάρκο Δέλτα Έβρου	1977	128.96 km2 (49.79 sq mi)	61.91 km2 (23.90 sq mi)			[26] [27]
Lake Kerkini National Park Εθνικό Πάρκο Λίμνης Κερκίνης	2007	824.15 km2 (318.21 sq mi)	N/A			[28]
National Park of Lakes Koronia-Volvi and the Macedonian Tempe Εθνικό Πάρκο Κορώνειας – Βόλβης και Μακεδονικών Τεμπών	2004	159.28 km2 (61.50 sq mi)	1,921.57 km2 (741.92 sq mi)			[29] [30] [31]
Kotychi-Strofylia Wetlands National Park Εθνικό Πάρκο Υγροτόπων Κoτυχίου – Στροφιλιάς	2009	159.75 km2 (61.68 sq mi)	72.01 km2 (27.80 sq mi)			[32] [33]
National Park of the Messolonghi-Aitoliko Lagoon, lower reaches and estuaries of Acheloos and Evinos rivers and Echinades islands Εθνικό Πάρκο Λιμνοθαλασσών Μεσολογγίου – Αιτωλικού, κάτω ρου και εκβολών ποταμών Αχελώου και Εύηνου και νήσων Εχινάδων	2006	360.73 km2 (139.28 sq mi)	256.22 km2 (98.93 sq mi)			[34] [35]
North Pindos National Park Εθνικό Πάρκο Βόρειας Πίνδου	2005	1,462.59 km2 (564.71 sq mi)	483.87 km2 (186.82 sq mi)			[36] [37]
Prespa Lakes National Park Εθνικό Πάρκο Δρυμού Πρεσπών	2009	324.03 km2 (125.11 sq mi)	N/A			[38]
Rodopi Mountain Range National Park Εθνικό Πάρκο Οροσειράς Ροδόπης	2009	549.29 km2 (212.08 sq mi)	1,200.63 km2 (463.57 sq mi)			[39] [40]
Schinias-Marathon National Park Εθνικό Πάρκο Σχινιά – Μαραθώνα	2000	14.39 km2 (5.56 sq mi)	N/A			[41]
National Park of Tzoumerka, Peristeri & Arachthos Gorge Εθνικό Πάρκο Τζουμέρκων Περιστερίου Χαράδρας Αράχθου	2009	723.6 km2 (279.4 sq mi)	95.94 km2 (37.04 sq mi)			[42] [43] [44] [45] [46]

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.

See also

• List of Ramsar sites in Greece
• Wildlife of Greece