Menalus

Mainalo ( el, Μαίναλο, grc, Μαίναλος or Μαίναλον, Mainalos or Mainalon; la, Maenalus) is the tallest mountain in the Menalon highlands of the Peloponnese, and is located in Arcadia, Greece. In antiquity, the mountain was especially sacred to Pan.

The mountain's highest point, known as both ''Profitis Ilias'' and ''Ostrakina'', at a height of , is the highest point in Arcadia. The mountain has a length of from southwest of Tripoli to northeast of Vytina, and a width of from Zygovisti to Kapsas. The mountain is part of a Natura 2000 site, designated in March 2011, covering an area of . In the 19th and early 20th century, the mountain was known as ''Apano Chrepa''.

Mainalo is home to a ski resort, which is found at an elevation of , with 7 ski slopes and 4 lifts, which are at an altitude between .

Geography

Mainalo's ground is primarily made of lime, among various calcareous substrates.

Mainalo has various named peaks. Listed by height, they are, among others;
* ''Ostrakina'' ( el, Οστρακίνα) or ''Profitis Ilias'' ( el, Προφήτης Ηλιας) at
* ''Pateritsa'' ( el, Πατερίτσα) at
* ''Aidini'' ( el, Αϊδίνη) at
* ''Mavri Koryfi'' ( el, Μαύρη Κορυφή) at
* ''Mourtzia'' ( el, Μουρτζιά) at
* ''Mesovouni'' ( el, Μεσοβούνι) at
* ''Krevatia'' ( el, Κρεββάτια) at
* ''Epano Chrepa'' ( el, Επάνω χρέπα) at
* ''Lioritsi'' ( el, Λιορίτσι) at
* ''Sterna'' ( el, Στέρνα) at

Ecology

The mountain houses many forests of Greek fir and Crimean pine. Natura 2000 cites these forests as the ''" reek fir and Crimean pine'sbest representation in Peloponnisos."''

Mainalo has several ecological environments, comprising:
* Mediterranean arborescent matorrals, covering of the mountain, this environment consists of Mediterranean and sub-Mediterranean sclerophyllous evergreen shrublands grouped under arborescent junipers.^:59
* Endemic oro-Mediterranean heaths with gorse, covering of the mountain, this environment consists of a dry mountainous environment. Mediterranean heaths are usually dominated by '' Genista'', while containing various other, often spined, shrubs like '' Acantholimon'', '' Astragalus'', ''Erinacea'', '' Bupleurum'', '' Ptilotrichum'', ''Echinospartum'', and ''Anthyllis''. This environment also includes a variety of '' Asteraceae'' and ''Lamiaceae''.^:53
* Calcareous rocky slopes with chasmophytic vegetation, covering of the mountain, this environment consists of limestone cliffs and screes, featuring great ecological diversity, with many endemic plants growing in fissures within rock.^:96

Many amphibians, reptiles, mammals, insects, and diurnal predatory birds inhabit Mainalo. These include, among others;
* Reptiles such as the Balkan whip snake, marginated tortoise, Kotschy's gecko, Greek rock lizard, Peloponnese wall lizard, European copper skink, and the horned viper.
* Mammals such as the European hare, beech marten, European badger, lesser noctule bat, edible dormouse, Thomas's pine vole, and the western broad-toothed field mice.
* Amphibians such as the European green toad, European tree frog, and the Syrian spadefoot.
* Birds such as the northern goshawk, Eurasian sparrowhawk, common buzzard, common kestrel, and the peregrine falcon.
* Insects such as the ''Kretania sephirus'' butterfly, Persian skipper butterfly, eastern orange tip butterfly and the mountain small white butterfly.

Notable people

The following people were associated with the ancient city Maenalus, which may have stood near the summit of Mainalo:
* Androsthenes of Maenalus, a pankratiast who won gold in the ancient Olympic Games in 420 and 416 BC.^:27:10
* Damoxenidas of Maenalus, a boxer who won gold in the ancient Olympic Games in 384 BC.^:159:246
* Ephotion of Maenalus, a pankratiast who won gold in the ancient Olympic Games in 464 BC.^:60
*Euthymenes of Maenalus, a boys' and adult wrestler who won gold in the ancient Olympic Games in 400 and 392 BC.^:66
* Nicodamus of Maenalus, a sculptor who made statues of ancient Olympic victors and Greek mythological figures.
*Phormis of Maenalus, a distinguished fighter who became rich in service of Gelo.
*Xenocles of Maenalus, a boys' wrestler who won gold in the ancient Olympic Games in 372 BC.^:177

References

External links

Mainalo Ski Center

Forecasts on Mainalo
{{in lang, el

Landforms of Arcadia, Peloponnese
Mountains of Peloponnese (region)
Mountains of Greece
Ski areas and resorts in Greece