WHAT HAPPEN TO RIVERS AFTER THEY DIE
This geosite has been proposed as a geosite of national significance. Mega spilaio lies on the eastern flank of Vouraikos gorge and includes the mountain tops Profitis Ilias and Psili Raxi, with an altitude of 1400 meters. The imposing rocks of Mega Spilaio are composed of conglomerates with steep slopes. Mega Spilaio Monastery has been built in these imposing rocks. It is a historical Monastery that has been built in the entrance of a big natural cavity. It is the oldest known Monastery in Greece. It has been built in 362 AC from the monks Simeon and Theodor. In this Monastery the sacred Icon of Virgin Mary is kept. It is made from mastic and wax by Luke the Evangelist and it was found in the cave.
Geodiversity
Conglomerates are rock fragments, which have been rounded due to their transport by rivers. In this geosite, the conglomerates are divided into two sequences. The lower sequence, called the “Mega Spilaio Formation”, was deposited by rivers between 3.5 to 0.8 million years ago. In a layer of sandy clay, between these conglomerates, fossil bones of large mammals have been found which confirm that during the fluvial phases some terrestrial ones also intervened. The upper conglomerates sequence is 350 meters thick, of fluvial to terrestrial origin as well but it is younger, with an age of 0.8 to 0.2 million years old.
While these rocks were deposited at the level of a river, today they appear at an altitude of 1400 meters. The formation of this geosite is due to the tectonic opening of the Corinth Gulf rift which is having an expansion rate of 10-15 mm per year. This expansion causes the formation of multiple faults, causing as a result the subsidence in the Gulf region and the continuous uplift in the areas of the Northern Peloponnese including the Vouraikos area. This uplift was responsible for the formation of this impressive geomorph.
Biodiversity
The Geosite is located within the Protected Area “FARANGI VOURAIKOU” (GR2320003) and the Special Protection Area (SPA) “OROS CHELMOS (AROANIA)-FARANGI VOURAIKOU KAI PERIOCHI KALAVRYTON” (GR2320013) of the Natura 2000 network.
On the conglomerates of Mega Spilaio a unique stenotopic chasmophyte exists called Silene conglomeratica. These conglomerates are its unique habitat.
