Discover the geomonuments and
the geosites of Lemnos
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Lemnos island and its geosites
The various geosites located on the island of Lemnos reflect the complex geohistorical development of the island and the NE Aegean region in general. Geosites are areas with particular geological or geomorphological significance and can show the geohistorical evolution of an area.
Among these geosites are the Petrified Forest of Lemnos, which is a particularly important geological monument, as well as the various volcanic and geomorphological sites of the island.
Lemnos geosites categories
Fossils
Fossilized tree trunks about 23 million years old, form the protected Petrified Forest of Lemnos. Ichnofossils, about 33 millions years old, are found in the sedimentary geological formations of Eastern Lemnos.
Volcanic geosites
Sites created by volcanic activity 23 million years ago and document the presence of volcanoes in the area.
Tectonic geosites
Sites which formed by the intense tectonic activity of NE Aegean like big faults, uplift and submerge of areas, geological layers folding etc.
Erosion geoforms
Sites formed by natural and chemical weathering of rocks, from water, wind and waves activity.
Aeolian geosites
Aeolian geosites are created by the erosion, transport and deposition of materials derived from the weathering of sedimentary rocks of Lemnos. The weathering of rocks is caused by the actions of water, air and waves.
Man-made geosites
Man-made geosites have been created in areas where the human presence affects the natural environment for the utilization of natural resources or the creation of large technical projects. In this way elements of geological structures and history of an area revealed, which were not visible in the Earth’s surface.
Coastal geosites
Impressive coastal geosites are created by the erosion of rocks due to the action of sea waves and wind along the Lemnos coasts.
Water systems
The action of water creates impressive geosites in the rocks of Lemnos. The water gradually forms the relief and creates valleys, waterfalls, lakes which are characteristic geoforms.
Volcanic island
Fossil sites
Volcanic geosites
Geomorphological geosites
Lemnos’ Faraklo
Impressive patterns of spheroidal erosion emerge in sandstone layers in Faraklo, north of the village of Atsiki along the northern coasts of Lemnos island.
The area is covered with Upper Eocene-Lower Oligocene sedimentary layers formed in an underwater channel 27-33 million years ago.
The chemical weathering of the layered sandstones produces geoforms of exceptional natural beauty, capturing the curiosity of tourists who wants to discover nature’s uncommon masterpieces.
The spheroidal geoforms appear as large red-shapped spheres inside the weathered light-colored sandstone. Networks of fractures are weathered into the sandstone rocks over time, allowing water to seep through and deepen these cracks. The relentless action of the sea waves and salt from the sea spray compound this process started by the weathering, and the result is the creation of more of these beautiful spheroidal geoforms surrounded by sandstone rock.
Varos Fossilized Tree Trunk
An impressive petrified tree trunk of a Sequoia tree can be found lying on its side in the fossil-rich area located outside the village of Varos. The fossil is surrounded by fence in order to be protected.
Most of the fossilized trunk was found covered with soil, while its lower section was discovered in pyroclastic rocks. With the completion of the first phase of excavations by the Natural History Museum of the Lesvos Petrified Forest, it was revealed that the trunk has a diameter larger than 1 m and length greater than 7m.
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