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Northern Sporades is a group of islands in the Northwest Aegean situated north of Evia and east of Pilio. The area comprises islands Alonissos, Skopelos and Skiathos, which are its only inhabited territories, as well as a number of smaller islands and islets on which human presence is limited to a few guards and occasional shepherds. The largest part of the area (94%) is covered by water. Geologically, the majority of islands consist mostly of limestone rock, with the exception of Psathoura featuring a geology of purely volcanic origin. In proximity to Psathoura lies a dormant volcano. On the island of Skopelos valleys with steep slopes and streams are formed. The local vegetation is chiefly made up of forests of Aleppo pines (Pinus halepensis), holly oak maquis (Quercus coccifera), a small forest of holm oaks (Quercus ilex), Oleo-Ceratonion maquis, fruit trees and olive groves. The plant life of Alonissos mainly consists of dense maquis with Quercus coccifera, Q. ilex, Arbutus unedo, Juniperus phoenicea, forests of Aleppo pines (Pinus halepensis) and brushwood (Sarcopoterium spinosum). The pine forests on Skopelos and Alonissos have replaced oak species that predominated in the past; this is due to a preference for pine trees, since their timber is widely used for ship construction. The National Marine Park is a unique group of Mediterranean biotopes, both on land and in the sea. It encompasses many types of vegetation and highly representable marine natural habitats. The park is also home to many plant and animal species, including endemic, rare or protected species, as well as taxa at the southernmost or northernmost end of their spread. Piperi island is an area protected under the Barcelona Convention.
Apart from its scientific and educational interest, the area also is of great archaeological interest, considering the number of remnants and monuments dating from the prehistoric, classical and Byzantine eras (speleological findings, shipwrecks, old monasteries and churches). The numerous caves and beaches formed between the rocky coasts constitute an ideal habitat for the monk seal, whose population in the area is estimated to be the largest in the Mediterranean. Piperi, the most important breeding site for the monk seal, is the core of the Northern Sporades Marine Park. An isolated population of wild goats (Capra aegagrus ssp. Dorcas) occurs exclusively on the island of Gioura. Equally important is the local reptilian fauna comprising rare and protected species. Birdlife in the area is abundant, with a large number of migratory birds and many species breeding in the area. The invertebrate fauna is also significant, as it consists of endemic species of isopods, especially in the Cave of Cyclops on Gioura. Marine biotopes are renowned for sustaining a great many well-populated species. This wide marine biodiversity is partly attributed to the diversity of marine natural habitats (such as underwater sea-grass beds of Posidonia, reefs, etc) and absence of pollution. This fact renders the recommended site especially important from a systematical and zoogeographical point of view. Furthermore, 170 species of fish, 70 species of amphipods and 40 species of sponges have been recorded in the area. The lush chasmophyte vegetation comprising many endemic species presents great phytogeographical and ecological interest.Some species are spread over the Southern Aegean, and Gioura constitutes the northernmost end of their spread.
Carnival in Northern Sporades
Skopelos
Here carnival celebrations are a major joyful event.
All inhabitants dress up in animal skins, wear bells, dance, sing and make up funny verses.
Municipality of Skopelos: Tel.: 24240 22205
Skyros
From the beginning of the Triodion (the three-week Greek Carnival period) and each weekend during carnival, the island's customs require the "Yeros" (old man) and the "Kopela" (girl) to go out in the streets and lend their own special colour to the occasion. The "old man" wears a thick black cloak, white woven breeches and has two or three rows of bells tied round his waist, which together can weigh up to 50 kilos. His face is covered with a goat fleece and he dances in the street, so that the bells he is wearing jangle melodiously.
The "Kopela", the old man's partner, is dressed in the traditional white costume of Skyros, in striking contrast with the Yeros' black clothes.
She too has her face covered. She dances round the old man, opening the way for him or attempting to help him or get him to rest.
The most skilled "old men" leave the streets for a while and climb up to the Castle of the island, where everyone is waiting and they ring the bells of the old St. George Monastery.
Then, while the Yeros is taking a rest, the Kopela sings him a song of Skyros, praising his virtues and qualities. Later on both the Yeros and the Kopela will be accompanied by a third figure, the Frank.
The Frank wears a traditional costume of the island of Skyros, as well as trousers. This disguise had the intention to make fun of all those islanders who abandoned the traditional outfit and preferred western trousers (Frankika).
The origins of this custom are lost in the mists of time and many scholars believe that it has Dionysian roots, a relic of ancient Bacchic celebrations.
Older inhabitants of the island insist that the Yeros and the Kopela come every year to remind the islanders of a natural disaster which destroyed all the flocks of Skyros, whereupon a shepherd girded himself with the bells of his sheep and goats and went to the village to warn the others about the disaster.
Another carnival celebration on Skyros is the "trata". During the trata, which reenacts the life of sailors, the performers, mostly fishermen, satirise in rhyme situations and events pertaining to life in Greek society in general.
These satirical verses and the performers' costumes highly amuse the spectators. Festivities reach a climax on the last Sunday of the carnival.
On "Ash Monday", almost all the people of Skyros, wearing traditional local costumes, gather in the village square, where they sing and dance local dances.
Easter in Sporades
Skiathos
Skiathos is one of the few areas of Greece where the Ritual of Mount Athos is strictly observed (concerning the hours of church services). Thus, the epitaph service starts at one in the morning of Holy Saturday. The procession starts at about 4 in the morning.
There is a leader (a herald) who loudly announces the appropriate psalms, while all the people and the cantors join in. The procession winds along the picturesque alleyways and cobbled paths of the island. All the houses are lit up, while in the courtyards there are lighted candles and burning incense imbues the air with a sweet smell. At the Church of the "Three Hierarchs", the congregations of the two churches meet at around 5.30 in the morning. There, the clergy perform a reenactment of the "Descent into Hell" of Christ. When they come to words "Lift up your heads, O ye gates", the priest pushes with force (with his foot) and opens the outer door of the church. Soon it will be dawn, but nobody goes to bed, because Holy Saturday is a day devoted to the last-minute preparations for Easter Sunday.
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