Mainalo (
Greek: Μαίναλο,
Ancient Greek: Μαίναλος or Μαίναλον,
romanized: Mainalos or Mainalon;
Latin: Maenalus[2]) 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.[2]
The mountain's highest point, known as both Profitis Ilias and Ostrakina,[1][3] at a height of 1,981 m (6,499 ft),[1] is the highest point in Arcadia.[4] The mountain has a length of 15 to 20 kilometres (9.3 to 12.4 mi) from southwest of
Tripoli to northeast of
Vytina, and a width of 5 to 10 kilometres (3.1 to 6.2 mi) from
Zygovisti to
Kapsas.[4] The mountain is part of a
Natura 2000 site, designated in March 2011, covering an area of 226.4 square kilometres (87.4 sq mi).[5] In the 19th and early 20th century, the mountain was known as Apano Chrepa.[6]
The mountain takes its name from the ancient Mount Mainalos, which was however located about 25 kilometers further south near the town of
Asea, and has been identified as the same mountain known today as Ágios Ilías. The name was mistakenly connected to the current mounaint Mainalo by early European travelers.[7][8] In Greek mythology, Mount Mainalos got its name from
Maenalus, son of
Lykaon, king of Arcadia.[9]
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,[10] which are at an altitude between 1,550 to 1,770 metres (5,090 to 5,810 ft).[4]
Lioritsi (
Greek: Λιορίτσι) at 1,155 metres (3,789 ft)
Sterna (
Greek: Στέρνα) at 1,071 metres (3,514 ft)
Ecology
The mountain houses many forests of
Greek fir and
Crimean pine. Natura 2000 cites these forests as the "[Greek fir and Crimean pine's] best representation in Peloponnisos."[5]
Mainalo has several ecological environments, comprising:[5]
Calcareous rocky slopes with
chasmophytic vegetation, covering 0.22 square kilometres (0.085 sq mi) of the mountain, this environment consists of
limestone cliffs and
screes, featuring great ecological diversity, with many endemic plants growing in
fissures within rock.[11]:96