Page 113 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Greek Islands

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Sporádes Marine Park
Θαλάσσιο Πάρκο
4 From Skiáthos, Skópelos,
Alónnisos ∑ alonissos-
park.gr
Founded in 1992, the National
Marine Park of Alónnisos and
the Northern Sporádes is an
area of great environmental
importance. The only such
park in the Aegean, it includes MARINE WILDLIFE IN THE SPORÁDES
not just Alónnisos but also its
uninhabited outlying islands Visitors can see a wide range of other wildlife in the
of Peristéra, Skántzoura, Sporádes while looking for monk seals. Spring and
Gioúra, Pipéri and Kyrá autumn are good for several species of gulls and terns,
Panagiá. Boat trips to most and when venturing close to sea cliffs, keep an eye out for
of these are offered daily in the Eleonora’s falcons, which are breathtaking acrobats.
season from Patitíri. Out at sea, look for jellyfish and the occasional group of
The park was created to common dolphins. Cory’s shearwaters fly near the waves
protect an important breeding and towards the shore in high winds and as dusk falls.
colony of the Mediterranean
monk seal and a fragile marine
ecosystem of other rare flora seals and restric tions on the marine park that only
and fauna. Thanks to the pio­ fishing in the area seem to be scientists are allowed to visit,
neering efforts of marine biol­ paying off. Local fishermen so check the website before
ogists from the University of are beginning to concede that your visit.
Athens, who formed the they can coexist with the The marine park is also an
Hellenic Society for the Study seals, which they formerly important route and staging
and Protection of the Monk killed as competitors. The best post for many migratory birds
Seal in 1988, Greece’s largest way to visit the park is by during spring and autumn.
population of this elusive organized tour, although Land birds, from tiny warblers
marine mammal – estimated sightings of seals are not to elegant pallid harriers, pass
at around 60 seals – is now always guaran teed. There are through in large numbers to
scien tifically monitored. Fewer a number of restricted areas and from breeding grounds in
than 400 monk seals exist across the islands covered by north eastern Europe.
world wide, making it one of
the most endangered species
in the world. A campaign to
promote awareness of the
endangered status of the

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