The Greek island of Nisyros has officially been inducted into the UNESCO Global Geoparks Network, securing international recognition for its rare geological landscape and distinctive cultural heritage.
The designation was formalized during a special accreditation ceremony held at UNESCO headquarters in Paris last week, marking a historic milestone for the Dodecanese island and its residents. The official certification was presented directly to a Greek delegation in the French capital. George Koumoutsakos, the Permanent Representative of Greece to UNESCO, and Christofis Koronaios, the Mayor of Nisyros, accepted the document on behalf of the municipality.
The event was also attended by key figures responsible for the park’s academic and operational development, including Evie Nomikou, a professor at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA) who is the scientific director of the Nisyros Geopark, alongside Vangelis Tasoulas, the park’s managing director.
Upon receiving the official certificate, Mayor Koronaios emphasized the magnitude of this achievement for the local community. He characterized the UNESCO inclusion as a major international milestone for the island, showing the pressing need to continue protecting and promoting the region’s distinct geological wealth and cultural assets on a global stage.
Where is Nisyros and why is it important?
Geographically situated in the southeastern Aegean Sea, Nisyros is defined by an impressive geological complex comprising both land and marine formations.
The island’s topography is the direct outcome of continuous volcanic activity spanning hundreds of thousands of years. As a prominent node on the active Hellenic Volcanic Arc, Nisyros is essentially a geothermally active stratovolcano rising directly from the sea floor. The newly recognized geopark encompasses this entire volcanic environment. The island features highly active craters, expansive hydrothermal fields, and natural hot springs that vent gases from deep within the Earth’s crust.
Its central caldera, a massive depression formed by ancient eruptions, contains some of the largest and best-preserved hydrothermal craters in the world. These active geothermal elements are surrounded by unique rock formations shaped by millennia of sequential ash deposits and lava flows.
The integration into the UNESCO network highlights the island’s geology and how the local population interacts with this extreme and unique environment. The island’s cultural heritage, ranging from traditional architecture adapted to the rugged volcanic terrain to agricultural practices utilizing the highly fertile, mineral-rich soil, played a crucial role in securing the designation.
The UNESCO Global Geoparks Network has as its main goal to preserve areas of international geological significance while fostering sustainable community development. For Nisyros, achieving this status is expected to boost scientific research and attract sustainable eco-tourism.
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