Vikos Gorge
Encyclopedia
The Vikos Gorge is a gorge in the Pindus Mountains of northern Greece
. It lies on the southern slopes of Mount Tymfi
, with a length of about 20 km, depth ranging from 450 m to 1600 m and width from 400 m to some meters at its narrowest part.
Vikos is listed as the deepest gorge in the world by the Guinness Book of Records among others. This follows a somewhat arbitrary definition of a gorge that excludes deeper features such as Colca Canyon
because of their greater width:depth ratio.
region. It begins between the villages Monodendri and Koukouli and ends near the village of Vikos (or Vitsiko). The gorge collects the waters of a number of small rivers and leads them into the Voidomatis River which rises in the gorge. Voidomatis has a seasonal flow to its major part, being permanent only at the lowest part of the gorge. Vikos is also a site of major scientific interest, because it is in almost virgin condition, is a haven for endangered species and contains many and varied ecosystems.
The Vikos Gorge, with a length of 20 km (12 mi), walls that range from 400 to 1600 ft (121.9 to 487.7 m) deep, and a width from 400 m (1,312 ft) to some meters at its narrowest part is listed by the Guinness Book of Records as the deepest canyon
in the world in proportion to its width, though some gorge lobbyists contest that claim. The main part of the gorge stretches from the village of Vikos to Monodendri, and attains a depth of about 1000 m (3,281 ft).
The landscape of the 20 km long gorge, 12 km οf which belong to the park's core zone, presents a diverse relief and is characterized by abrupt altitudinal changes. Steep slopes and precipitous rocky cliffs dominate in the middle and higher zones respectively. Numerous gullies
dissect both sides of the gorge and the movement of water detaching various rocky materials creates extended scree
s. The gorge, with a northwest-southeast direction, has been carved over millions of years by the Voidomatis River, a tributary of the Aoos. The Voidomatis, is mostly seasonal, with year-round flow occurring only in the lower part of the gorge. As the Vikos Gorge is a deep cross section, its slopes expose a series of rocks of different age. The upper layers consist of limestone
formations, while the lower ones of grey dolomite
. A special feature of the limestone, resulting from its chemical weathering to water, is its carstic nature. Since limestone dissolves as the water percolates through its pores, an extended underground drainage system is developed with caves and channels that enlarge with the time when their roofs collapse producing rocky exposures and perpendicular slopes. For the same reason the water is scarce, and only when an impenetrable stratum
is met, the water appears on the surface.
. Another viewpoint over the gorge is at Beloi, on the eastern side of the gorge, accessible from the village of Vradeto
.
A hiking trail descends into the gorge from Monodendri. The trail then leads north through the gorge to the springs of the Voidomatis river, from where paths lead out of the gorge to the village of Papingo on the north side of the gorge, or to the village of Vikos
on the south side of the gorge. It is also possible to hike south through the gorge from Monodendri to the 18th century stone bridges near Kipi
.
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
. It lies on the southern slopes of Mount Tymfi
Tymfi
Tymfi or Mt Tymphe, Timfi, also Tymphi is a mountain in the northern Pindus mountain range, northwestern Greece. It is part of the regional unit of Ioannina and lies in the region of Zagori, just a few meters south of the 40° parallel...
, with a length of about 20 km, depth ranging from 450 m to 1600 m and width from 400 m to some meters at its narrowest part.
Vikos is listed as the deepest gorge in the world by the Guinness Book of Records among others. This follows a somewhat arbitrary definition of a gorge that excludes deeper features such as Colca Canyon
Colca Canyon
Colca Canyon is a canyon of the Colca River in southern Peru. Peru's third most-visited tourist destination with about 160,000 visitors annually, it's located about 100 miles northwest of Arequipa...
because of their greater width:depth ratio.
Location
The gorge is the found in the core zone of Vikos–Aoös National Park, in ZagoriZagori
Zagori , is a region and a municipality in the Pindus mountains in Epirus, in northwestern Greece. The seat of the municipality is the village Asprangeloi. It has an area of some 1,000 square kilometres and contains 45 villages known as Zagoria , and is in the shape of an upturned equilateral...
region. It begins between the villages Monodendri and Koukouli and ends near the village of Vikos (or Vitsiko). The gorge collects the waters of a number of small rivers and leads them into the Voidomatis River which rises in the gorge. Voidomatis has a seasonal flow to its major part, being permanent only at the lowest part of the gorge. Vikos is also a site of major scientific interest, because it is in almost virgin condition, is a haven for endangered species and contains many and varied ecosystems.
Geomorphology
Canyon
A canyon or gorge is a deep ravine between cliffs often carved from the landscape by a river. Rivers have a natural tendency to reach a baseline elevation, which is the same elevation as the body of water it will eventually drain into. This forms a canyon. Most canyons were formed by a process of...
in the world in proportion to its width, though some gorge lobbyists contest that claim. The main part of the gorge stretches from the village of Vikos to Monodendri, and attains a depth of about 1000 m (3,281 ft).
The landscape of the 20 km long gorge, 12 km οf which belong to the park's core zone, presents a diverse relief and is characterized by abrupt altitudinal changes. Steep slopes and precipitous rocky cliffs dominate in the middle and higher zones respectively. Numerous gullies
Gully
A gully is a landform created by running water, eroding sharply into soil, typically on a hillside. Gullies resemble large ditches or small valleys, but are metres to tens of metres in depth and width...
dissect both sides of the gorge and the movement of water detaching various rocky materials creates extended scree
Scree
Scree, also called talus, is a term given to an accumulation of broken rock fragments at the base of crags, mountain cliffs, or valley shoulders. Landforms associated with these materials are sometimes called scree slopes or talus piles...
s. The gorge, with a northwest-southeast direction, has been carved over millions of years by the Voidomatis River, a tributary of the Aoos. The Voidomatis, is mostly seasonal, with year-round flow occurring only in the lower part of the gorge. As the Vikos Gorge is a deep cross section, its slopes expose a series of rocks of different age. The upper layers consist of limestone
Limestone
Limestone is a sedimentary rock composed largely of the minerals calcite and aragonite, which are different crystal forms of calcium carbonate . Many limestones are composed from skeletal fragments of marine organisms such as coral or foraminifera....
formations, while the lower ones of grey dolomite
Dolomite
Dolomite is a carbonate mineral composed of calcium magnesium carbonate CaMg2. The term is also used to describe the sedimentary carbonate rock dolostone....
. A special feature of the limestone, resulting from its chemical weathering to water, is its carstic nature. Since limestone dissolves as the water percolates through its pores, an extended underground drainage system is developed with caves and channels that enlarge with the time when their roofs collapse producing rocky exposures and perpendicular slopes. For the same reason the water is scarce, and only when an impenetrable stratum
Stratum
In geology and related fields, a stratum is a layer of sedimentary rock or soil with internally consistent characteristics that distinguish it from other layers...
is met, the water appears on the surface.
Recreation
There is a natural viewing platform over the deepest part of the gorge at Oxia, a location 3 km by a newly-constructed road from the village of MonodendriMonodendri (Ioannina)
Monodendri is a village in the Ioannina Prefecture in Greece. It is part of the municipal unit of Central Zagori in the Zagori region, and is located 41 km north of the city of Ioannina....
. Another viewpoint over the gorge is at Beloi, on the eastern side of the gorge, accessible from the village of Vradeto
Vradeto
Vradeto , older form: -on is a village in the Greek Zagori region . It lies at a height of 1340m on Mt Tymphe on the Pindus mountainrange. Its location is the highest among the 44 villages of Zagori. It is the middle of the Vikos–Aoös National Park and is about 50 km away from Ioannina...
.
A hiking trail descends into the gorge from Monodendri. The trail then leads north through the gorge to the springs of the Voidomatis river, from where paths lead out of the gorge to the village of Papingo on the north side of the gorge, or to the village of Vikos
Vikos (Ioannina)
Vikos , also known as Vitsiko, is a village in the Central Zagori municipality in Ioannina Prefecture, Greece. It lies at the northern end of the Vikos Gorge. A paved path leads from the village to the Voidomatis springs in the gorge.- References :...
on the south side of the gorge. It is also possible to hike south through the gorge from Monodendri to the 18th century stone bridges near Kipi
Kipi (Ioannina)
Kipoi , also known as Bagia is a Greek village in the region of Zagori. It belongs to the municipal unit of Tymfi . The Greek name derives from the many gardens in the surrounding areas . The name "Bagia" is slavic and means "warm place". The village has the lowest latitude of all Zagori villages...
.