The geotrail is designed so that its points of interest (landmarks) reflect the geological evolution of the geopark area during the Mesozoic Era. The Mesozoic Era, which lasted approximately 252 to 66 million years ago, is known as the “Age of Dinosaurs.” During the Mesozoic, the Earth experienced different geological and climatic conditions, with the continents positioned differently than today. In various parts of the world, dinosaurs dominated, while the first mammals and birds appeared. The Mesozoic Era ended with the mass extinction of dinosaurs, an event that dramatically changed the planet’s biodiversity. At the time dinosaurs ruled the Earth, the region that is now the Helmos-Vouraikos UNESCO Global Geopark was underwater. The geopark’s rock formations may not be linked to majestic dinosaurs, but they shaped landscapes of unparalleled beauty and, millions of years later, inspired myths and legends that endured through time and wrote their own history.
In this geotrail, each geosite has been carefully selected to highlight the deep connection between geology and mythology, demonstrating the coexistence of science and myth. Myths were the way people of the past interpreted natural phenomena.