Application to Extend the area of the LESVOS PETRIFIED FOREST ...

Geological Heritage of Lesvos Island
Abstract
Lesvos island belongs to the Pelagonian geotectonic zone of Greece. The geological structure
of Lesvos Island comprises:
� The Permo‐Triassic metamorphic basement, including schists, quartzites,
metasandstones, phyllites, marbles and crystalline carbonates.
� An ophiolitic sequence (basic and ultrabasic rocks, deep‐sea sediments and
metamorphic rocks of the sole), overthrusted the metamorphic basement.
� Tertiary volcanic rocks and Neogene marine and lacustrine deposits, as well as
Quaternary deposits.
The Neogene volcanic rocks, dominate the Central and Western part of the island and are
associated with the presence of remains of fossil plants, which form the famous «Petrified
forest of Lesvos», declared as Protected Natural Monument. It was developed during Late
Oligocene to Lower ‐ Middle Miocene, due to the intense volcanic activity in the area which
created impressive volcanic geosites. Neotectonic activity also contributed to the morphology
of the island forming significant tectonic fault scarps associated with strong earthquakes.
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