Mainalo (Greek: Μαίναλο, Ancient Greek: Μαίναλος or Μαίναλον, romanized: Mainalos or Mainalon; Latin: Maenalus[2]) is the tallest mountain in the Menalon highlands of the Peloponnese, and is located in Arcadia, Greece. In antiquity, the mountain was especially sacred to Pan.[2]
The mountain's highest point, known as both Profitis Ilias and Ostrakina,[1][3] at a height of 1,981 m (6,499 ft),[1] is the highest point in Arcadia.[4] The mountain has a length of 15 to 20 kilometres (9.3 to 12.4 mi) from southwest of Tripoli to northeast of Vytina, and a width of 5 to 10 kilometres (3.1 to 6.2 mi) from Zygovisti to Kapsas.[4] The mountain is part of a Natura 2000 site, designated in March 2011, covering an area of 226.4 square kilometres (87.4 sq mi).[5] In the 19th and early 20th century, the mountain was known as Apano Chrepa.[6]
The mountain takes its name from the ancient Mount Mainalos, which was however located about 25 kilometers further south near the town of Asea, and has been identified as the same mountain known today as Ágios Ilías. The name was mistakenly connected to the current mounaint Mainalo by early European travelers.[7][8] In Greek mythology, Mount Mainalos got its name from Maenalus, son of Lykaon, king of Arcadia.[9]
Mainalo is home to a ski resort, which is found at an elevation of 1,600 metres (5,200 ft), with 7 ski slopes and 4 lifts,[10] which are at an altitude between 1,550 to 1,770 metres (5,090 to 5,810 ft).[4]
The mountain houses many forests of Greek fir and Crimean pine. Natura 2000 cites these forests as the "[Greek fir and Crimean pine's] best representation in Peloponnisos."[5]
Mainalo has several ecological environments, comprising:[5]
Calcareous rocky slopes with chasmophytic vegetation, covering 0.22 square kilometres (0.085 sq mi) of the mountain, this environment consists of limestone cliffs and screes, featuring great ecological diversity, with many endemic plants growing in fissures within rock.[11]:96
