Greece’s Nisyros Joins the UNESCO Global Geoparks Network

The crater of the Nisyros volcano, named ”Stefanos.” Credit: Krzysztof Gabrylewsk, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0

As of Monday, April 27, the Nisyros Geopark, covering a full country of 481 quadrate kilometers, has been officially inducted into the UNESCO Global Geoparks Network.

The Nisyros Geopark encompasses the land of Nisyros itself, the islets of Pacheia, Pergousa, Strongyli, and Kandeleousa, arsenic good arsenic the surrounding submarine area, which is characterized by volcanic formations presently being studied by international technological teams.

The authoritative grant ceremonial for the “UNESCO Global Geopark” rubric took spot astatine UNESCO office successful Paris, successful the beingness of Greece’s Permanent Representative to UNESCO, George Koumoutsakos, and the Mayor of Nisyros, Christofis Koroneos, who formally accepted the certificate.

Nisyros becomes the tenth Geopark successful Greece

“With the palmy inclusion of Nisyros successful this peculiar UNESCO network, Greece contiguous adds its tenth Geopark to this prestigious category, which highlights areas of exceptional earthy quality and unsocial geological features,” stated Ambassador Koumoutsakos.

Greece’s antecedently recognized UNESCO Global Geoparks include: Lesvos Island, Psiloritis, Vikos–Aoos National Park, Helmos–Vouraikos National Park, Sitia, Grevena–Kozani, Lavreotiki, Meteora–Pyli, and Kefalonia–Ithaca.

“Greece, the Dodecanese, and peculiarly Nisyros person each crushed to consciousness pridefulness and joy,” Koumoutsakos added. “At the aforesaid time, however, we indispensable admit the work to support and sustainably utilize this unsocial portion of our homeland, present bearing the UNESCO seal.”

He further emphasized that with 10 recognized Geoparks, Greece ranks among the nations with the highest fig of sites successful the network, some successful implicit presumption and successful proportionality to its onshore area.

For his part, Mayor Christofis Koroneos stated, “Today is simply a historical milestone for Nisyros. Nisyros is nary longer conscionable a volcanic land successful the Aegean; it is present a globally recognized UNESCO Global Geopark. This induction decisively strengthens the extortion of our unsocial earthy situation and opens caller horizons for sustainable improvement and geotourism.”

Related: Greece’s Nisyros Island: A Moonscape Aegean Hideaway