| Oeta | |
|---|---|
 Mount Oeta | |
| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 2,152 m (7,060 ft) |
| Coordinates | 38°49′43″N22°17′19″E / 38.82861°N 22.28861°E /38.82861; 22.28861 |
| Geography | |
  Oeta Location in Greece | |
 | |
| Location | Phthiotis andPhocis,Greece |
| Parent range | Pindus |
Mount Oeta (/ˈɛtə/;Greek:Οίτη,polytonicΟἴτη,Oiti, also transcribed asOite) is a mountain inCentral Greece. A southeastern offshoot of thePindus range, it is 2,152 m (7,060 ft) high. Since 1966, the core area of the mountain is anational park, and much of the rest has been declared a special area underNatura 2000.
Mount Oeta is located on the boundaries of theprefectures ofPhocis in the south andPhthiotis in the north. Its northern side displays a steep and inaccessible terrain as it descends to therift valley of theSpercheios river, forming a series of deep gorges—most famous of which is that of theGorgopotamos river—a few of which boast large waterfalls, including the Kremastos waterfall, considered the highest inCentral Greece. To the east, Oeta is defined by the gorge of the Asopos (Ασωπός) river, which forms its boundary with the neighbouring MountKallidromo. The pass along the Asopos valley forms the chief passage between the Spercheios valley in the north and theBoeotic Cephissus valley in the south, with its northern exit close to the pass ofThermopylae. The southern slopes of Oeta are very gentle, bordering with the mountainsVardousia to the southwest andGiona to the southeast. On its western slope, Oeta is separated from MountGoulina by the valley of the river Vistriza (Βίστριζα), ancient Inachos (Ίναχος) and the pass of Liaskovo or Mantetsi (1,200 metres (3,900 ft)).[1][2] Historically, the name Oeta has been held to include Goulina or Kallidromo or both (cf.Friedrich Stählin,Das hellenische Thessalien, 1924).[3]
Oeta has a complexhydrogeology.Limestone andflysch, coupled with a complexgeomorphology, combine to create a large network ofsinkholes andcaverns, giving rise to many springs, small rivers, and seasonal ponds in the main plateaus, chiefly those of Livadies (Λιβαδιές), Amaliolaka (Αμαλιόλακα) and Katavothra (Καταβόθρα). Three major rivers spring forth from the mountain: Gorgopotamos and Asopos from the east, and Vistriza/Inachos from the west, all of which are tributaries of Spercheios. The streams of the southern slope flow into the riverMornos.[4] The mountain's tallest peak, Pyrgos (Πύργος), has a height of 2,152 metres (7,060 ft),[5] while the second-tallest is that of Greveno (Γρεβενό) at 2,117 metres (6,946 ft).[6]
A total of 22 settlements are located on Mount Oeta:[7]
In 1966, Mount Oeta became the sixth of Greece'snational parks in accordance with Royal Decree 218/1966. With an area of 7,000 hectares, of which 3,370 form the core zone and 3,630 the periphery, the park covers approximately one fourth of the mountain's area and is the third largest in Greece. Any human activity that impacts the local environment in whatsoever way is forbidden within the national park's boundaries.[8] The area of the national park has furthermore been declared a Special Area of Conservation as part of theNatura 2000 Network. The Gorgopotamos Gorge has also been declared a SAC, and together with the national park and the Asopos valley forms the broader "Mount Oeta National Park - Asopos Valley" Special Protected Area.[9] Oeta also has two wildlife refuges, where hunting is forbidden: the Skasmeni Frantzi – Dyo Vouna area on the northeastern slopes, and the Oiti–Pavliani area on the southeastern.[9] The national park and protected areas are overseen by the Management Body of Mt Oiti National Park, established as an agency of theMinistry of the Environment in 2002 (Law 3044/2002).[10]
Due to unique geomorphology, Oeta has a rich flora, with 1,149 identified plant species, and an estimated presence ofc. 1,250, representing about 20% of allflora of Greece.[11] The mountain hosts twoendemic species,Veronica oetaea of the genusVeronica, andAllium lagarophyllum of the genusAllium.Veronica oetaea is found only at the Livadies plateau and consideredcritically endangered, whileAllium lagarophyllum has been documented in the gorges of the Gorgopotamos and Asopos rivers.[12]
The dominant species is fir (Abies cephalonica), with fir forests covering over a third of the mountain, betweenc. 600 metres (2,000 ft) and 1,600 metres (5,200 ft) of altitude.[13] Black pine (Pinus nigra) is found in an isolated area on the northeast of the mountain. On the southern and western slopes there are oak forests (often mixed with fir), along with other broadleaved plants likeArbutus andPistacia lentiscus.[13] In the river gorges, planes, willows, and alder trees can be found.[13]
Slightly over 10% of the mountain—a comparatively high proportion—are meadows, which along with the exposed rocky slopes are the areas of highest diversity.[13] The mountain has a rich variety of flower species, such as lilies, croci, orchids, iris, violas, etc. It is therefore known as the "mountain of flowers".[14] Along with the nearbyGiona andVardousia ranges, Oeta is the southernmost limit of presence for plants of northern origin, such asActaea spicata orRhynchocorys elephas.[15]
Mammals in the park areroe deer,wild boar andhare. Thebalkan chamois lives on the mountain and is the symbol of the national park. Big predators of the region arebrown bears,wolves andwildcats. Thealpine newt is one of the amphibians living in the park and is endangered.[16]
The park also hosts a great variety of bird species. Woodpecker species are present on Oiti, such asgrey–headed woodpecker, thewhite–backed woodpecker, theblack woodpecker and thesyrian woodpecker. Other bird species include theortolan bunting, thehorned lark, theeurasian skylark, thetawny pipit, thealpine accentor, theblack redstart, thenorthern wheatear, thecommon rock thrush, theblack stork and thewhite–winged snowfinch. As well as a great number of rare predatory birds, for example thegolden eagle, theshort–toed snake eagle and theperegrine falcon.[17]
Fish species of the parks rivers and lakes areSperchios barbel,Macedonian chub,Sperchios spirlin, Greektrout and probably the endangeredMarathon minnow.[18]
InGreek mythology, Oeta is chiefly celebrated as the scene ofHeracles' death, andRoman authors even gave the demi-god the epithetOetaeus.[19] Prepared to die, he ascended Mount Oeta,where he built a funeral pyre, gave his bow and arrows toPhiloctetes, and laid himself down on the pile, his head resting on his club, and his lion's skin spread over him, and commanded Philoctetes to apply the torch to the pyre.[7] Another version of the story claims thatZeus threw a lightning bolt on the site of Heracles' death, and that from this place sprung forth the Gorgopotamos river.[20] The remains of a 3rd-century BCDoric temple dedicated to Heracles and his funeral pyre (Πυρὰ Ἡρακλέους), as well as an altar and ruins of adjacent buildings, still survive at the entrance of the Katavothra plateau at a height of 1,800 m, near the village of Pavliani. The temple complex remained in use until lateRoman times.[7][21]
In historical times, the area of Oeta belonged to southernThessaly, forming its southernmost district, that ofOetaea (Οἰταῖα).[19] A city called Oeta was also said to have been founded by Amphissus, son ofApollo andDryope, on the territory of theMalians,[19] but most likely the city never existed, and instead refers to Oetaea or more generally the area of theOetaean League.[22] Further north, Hypate/Hypata (ἡ Ὑπάτη, τὰ Ὕπατα), modern Ypati, was the chief city of theAenianes, and a member of theAetolian League.[23][24]
The women of Hypate were associated with witchcraft in Antiquity: the sorceresses Mycale and Agaonice, called the Pharmacidae, inhabited the area.[23][20] Even in more recent times, the precipice of Anemotrypa near the town was said to be the haunt of the crone Lyousa Armagou.[20]
Hypate is still mentioned in the 6th century by the historianProcopius of Caesarea, who recorded repairs to its walls by EmperorJustinian I, and in theSynecdemus.[23][25] The city may have been abandoned after the Slavic invasions of the 7th century, and reappears in the 10th century under the nameNeai Patrai ("New Patras") orPatrai Helladikai ("Patras in [thetheme of]Hellas"). Until the 13th century, the city is mentioned only as an ecclesiastical center, being ametropolitan bishopric with one (10th century) and eventually twelve (12th century)suffragans.[23][25]
The city played a major role in the latter 13th century, when it was the capital of the independent Greek rulers ofThessaly,John I Doukas,Constantine Doukas andJohn II Doukas. TheCatalan Company seized Neopatras and much of Phthiotis and southern Thessaly in 1319, forming the newDuchy of Neopatras, a vassal of theDuchy of Athens. It was one of the last remaining Catalan possessions in Greece, and fell to theOttoman Turks in 1394.[25] In the 13th and 14th centuries, the fortress town ofSiderokastron was also located on the eastern slopes of Oeta.[26] TheAgathonos Monastery, dating at least to the 15th century, lies on the northern slopes of the mountain near Ypati.[27]
The area played an important role in theGreek Resistance movement against theAxis occupation of Greece duringWorld War II. Thedestruction of the Gorgopotamos viaduct on 25 November 1942 by a joint effort of Greek Resistance forces and British saboteurs is ranked as one of the most spectacular sabotage actions inoccupied Europe.[6]
Smith, William, ed. (1854)."Oeta".Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography. Vol. I. London: John Murray. Smith, William, ed. (1854)."Hypata".Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography. Vol. I. London: John Murray.
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