Mainalo
Template:Short description Template:For Template:Use dmy dates Template:Infobox mountain
Mainalo (Template:Langx, Template:Langx; Template:Langx<ref name=DGRG>Template:Cite DGRG</ref>) is the tallest mountain in the Menalon highlands of the Peloponnese, and is located in Arcadia.
The mountain's highest point, known as both Profitis Ilias and Ostrakina,<ref name=oreiv/><ref name=tzelati>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> at a height of Template:Convert,<ref name=oreiv/> is the highest point in Arcadia.<ref name=peloponnese.eu>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The mountain has a length of Template:Convert from southwest of Tripoli to northeast of Vytina, and a width of Template:Convert from Zygovisti to Kapsas.<ref name=peloponnese.eu/> The mountain is part of a Natura 2000 site, designated in March 2011, covering an area of Template:Convert.<ref name=natura>Template:Natura 2000</ref> In the 19th and early 20th century, the mountain was known as Apano Chrepa.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
While the mountain takes its name from the ancient Mount Mainalos, and the ancient city of Maenalus which stood at its summit,<ref name=DGRG/><ref>Template:Cite book</ref> modern scholars now identify the location of the ancient mountain as "Ágios Ilías", a mountain Template:Convert further south near the town of Asea. The name was likely mistakenly connected to the mountain now known as Mainalo by earlier European travelers.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> According to ancient Greek mythology, Mount Mainalos got its name from Maenalus, son of Lykaon, king of Arcadia,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and in antiquity the mountain was especially sacred to Pan.<ref name=DGRG/>
Mainalo is home to a ski resort, which is found at an elevation of Template:Convert, with 7 ski slopes and 4 lifts,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> which are at an altitude between Template:Convert.<ref name="peloponnese.eu" />
GeographyEdit
Mainalo's ground is primarily made of lime, among various calcareous substrates.<ref name=natura/>
Mainalo has various named peaks. Listed by height, they are, among others;<ref name=oreiv/><ref name=tzelati/>
- Ostrakina (Template:Langx) or Profitis Ilias (Template:Langx) at Template:Convert
- Pateritsa (Template:Langx) at Template:Convert
- Aidini (Template:Langx) at Template:Convert
- Mavri Koryfi (Template:Langx) at Template:Convert
- Mourtzia (Template:Langx) at Template:Convert
- Mesovouni (Template:Langx) at Template:Convert
- Krevatia (Template:Langx) at Template:Convert
- Epano Chrepa (Template:Langx) at Template:Convert
- Lioritsi (Template:Langx) at Template:Convert
- Sterna (Template:Langx) at Template:Convert
EcologyEdit
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."<ref name=natura/>
Mainalo has several ecological environments, comprising:<ref name=natura/>
- Mediterranean arborescent matorrals, covering Template:Convert of the mountain, this environment consists of Mediterranean and sub-Mediterranean sclerophyllous evergreen shrublands grouped under arborescent junipers.<ref name="EUR 28">Template:Cite book</ref>:59
- Endemic oro-Mediterranean heaths with gorse, covering Template:Convert of the mountain, this environment consists of a dry mountainous environment. Mediterranean heaths are usually dominated by Genista, while containing various other, often spined, shrubs like Acantholimon, Astragalus, Erinacea, Bupleurum, Ptilotrichum, Echinospartum, and Anthyllis. This environment also includes a variety of Asteraceae and Lamiaceae.<ref name="EUR 28"/>:53
- Calcareous rocky slopes with chasmophytic vegetation, covering Template:Convert of the mountain, this environment consists of limestone cliffs and screes, featuring great ecological diversity, with many endemic plants growing in fissures within rock.<ref name="EUR 28"/>:96
Many amphibians, reptiles, mammals, insects, and diurnal predatory birds inhabit Mainalo. These include, among others;<ref name=natura/>
- Reptiles such as the Balkan whip snake, marginated tortoise, Kotschy's gecko, Greek rock lizard, Peloponnese wall lizard, European copper skink, and the horned viper.
- Mammals such as the European hare, beech marten, European badger, lesser noctule bat, edible dormouse, Thomas's pine vole, and the western broad-toothed field mice.
- Amphibians such as the European green toad, European tree frog, and the Syrian spadefoot.
- Birds such as the northern goshawk, Eurasian sparrowhawk, common buzzard, common kestrel, and the peregrine falcon.
- Insects such as the Kretania sephirus butterfly, Persian skipper butterfly, eastern orange tip butterfly and the mountain small white butterfly.