The land of Lavreotiki has been officially included in the UNESCO Global Geoparks Network and the European Geoparks Network as a Monument of Geology and Cultural Heritage. This milestone marks an important achievement for Greece, as it highlights, develops, and preserves the nation’s geological heritage while promoting the value of its natural geological wealth.
This long and demanding process culminated on November 25, 2020, when the official nomination dossier was submitted to the Hellenic National Commission for UNESCO. The Hellenic Authority for Geological and Mineral Research (EAGME) played a decisive role in this effort, working closely with local bodies (Municipality of Lavreotiki, DANETAL, EMEL), academic institutions (NTUA–School of Mining and Metallurgical Engineering, NKUA), and government agencies (YPEN, Ministry of Culture, GNTO, among others) to achieve the inclusion of the Lavreotiki Geopark in the UNESCO Global Geoparks Network.
It is worth noting that EAGME, supporting the effort from as early as 2008, prepared the initial nomination dossier for the area. This dossier was updated and completed in 2020 by a dedicated committee composed of EAGME’s scientific staff, specifically: M.Sc. E. Moraiti, Dr. K. Laskaridis, Dr. A. Fotiadis, Dr. P. Paschos, Dr. D. Galanakis, M.Sc. M. Fitros, and M.Sc. V. Sklirós.
The visual and educational material was designed and produced by Dr. E. Zananiri, M.Sc. V. Barsaki, and M.Sc. I. Kampolis from the Department of General Geology, Geological Mapping, and Applications (GEXAE) of EAGME, as part of the “GEOINFRA” ESPA project, which includes the recording of new geosites, geotrail studies, and geopark management plans.
Equally important was the contribution of Professor of Geology (NKUA) Dr. P. Voudouris, former Director of Economic Geology at IGME Dr. D. Bitzios, M.Sc. E. Theodosiou (former Head of the IGME Geoparks Programme), Emeritus Professor (NTUA) Dr. G. Papadimitriou, and naturalist I. Katsaros.
What is the Lavreotiki Geopark?
The Lavreotiki Geopark covers an area of 176 square kilometers of immense tangible and intangible cultural value. It includes around 1,000 mining galleries and an equal number of shafts, as well as more than 40 geosites of major scientific importance.
Essentially, it forms an extensive and safe network of geo-trails highlighting sites of geological, historical, mining, archaeological, and environmental interest—from the Ancient Theatre of Thorikos to the Temple of Poseidon at Sounio.
The Lavreotiki region is world-renowned, as its minerals contain the largest variety of chemical elements (48) found in any mining area worldwide, representing about 12% of all known minerals on Earth.
Now a proud member of the UNESCO Global Geoparks Network, Lavrio offers new opportunities to provide high-quality services, aspiring to become a global destination for geo-tourism.
It is noted that UNESCO Global Geoparks must meet strict standards of quality and service and are re-evaluated every four years under a rigorous protocol.
Today, the UNESCO Global Geoparks Network includes 195 sites across 48 countries. Greece currently participates with 8 recognized geoparks and 2 more under evaluation.
PHOTO CREDIT:
MARKOS VAXEVANOPOULOS