| Mainalo | |
|---|---|
 Greek fir forest on Mainalo | |
| Highest point | |
| Peak | Ostrakina orProfitis Ilias |
| Elevation | 1,981 m (6,499 ft)[1][2] |
| Prominence | 1,216 m (3,990 ft)[2] |
| Listing | World Ribus |
| Coordinates | 37°38′37″N22°16′47″E / 37.6436°N 22.2797°E /37.6436; 22.2797 |
| Naming | |
| Etymology | fromAncient GreekΜαίναλον (Maínalon) |
| Native name | Μαίναλο (Greek) |
| Geography | |
  Mainalo | |
| Geology | |
| Mountain type | Mount |
| Climbing | |
| Easiest route | Hike |
Mainalo (Greek:Μαίναλο,Ancient Greek:Μαίναλος or Μαίναλον,romanized: Mainalos or Mainalon;Latin:Maenalus[3]) is the tallest mountain in the Menalonhighlands of thePeloponnese, and is located inArcadia.
The mountain's highest point, known as bothProfitis Ilias andOstrakina,[1][4] at a height of 1,981 m (6,499 ft),[1] is the highest point in Arcadia.[5] The mountain has a length of 15 to 20 kilometres (9.3 to 12.4 mi) from southwest ofTripoli to northeast ofVytina, and a width of 5 to 10 kilometres (3.1 to 6.2 mi) fromZygovisti toKapsas.[5] The mountain is part of aNatura 2000 site, designated in March 2011, covering an area of 226.4 square kilometres (87.4 sq mi).[6] In the 19th and early 20th century, the mountain was known asApano Chrepa.[7]
While the mountain takes its name from the ancient Mount Mainalos, and theancient city ofMaenalus which stood at its summit,[3][8] modern scholars now identify the location of the ancient mountain as "Ágios Ilías", a mountain 25 kilometres (16 mi) further south near the town ofAsea. The name was likely mistakenly connected to the mountain now known as Mainalo by earlier European travelers.[9][10] According to ancient Greek mythology, Mount Mainalos got its name fromMaenalus, son ofLykaon, king of Arcadia,[11] and in antiquity the mountain was especially sacred toPan.[3]
Mainalo is home to a ski resort, which is found at an elevation of 1,600 metres (5,200 ft), with 7 ski slopes and 4 lifts,[12] which are at an altitude between 1,550 to 1,770 metres (5,090 to 5,810 ft).[5]
Mainalo's ground is primarily made oflime, among variouscalcareoussubstrates.[6]
Mainalo has various named peaks. Listed by height, they are, among others;[1][4]
The mountain houses many forests ofGreek fir andCrimean pine. Natura 2000 cites these forests as the"[Greek fir and Crimean pine's] best representation in Peloponnisos."[6]
Mainalo has several ecological environments, comprising:[6]
Manyamphibians,reptiles,mammals,insects, anddiurnalpredatory birds inhabit Mainalo. These include, among others;[6]
Smith, William, ed. (1857). "Maenalus".Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography. Vol. 2. London: John Murray. pp. 243–244.
Media related toMainalo at Wikimedia Commons