PANGEA students discovering the treasures of the island of Mytilini, Greece
From June 24 to 29, 2024, PANGEA students from the 3 tracks had the opportunity to visit Lesvos, one of the three largest islands of Greece, a few kilometers away from Turkey. An island whose treasures are hidden in the land, rather than in the sea, Mytilène left numerous learnings and discoveries for the Cohort 4 students.
UNESCO Global Geopark
Students received lectures on the geological structure of the island of Lesvos (the Alpine orogeny, Miocene Volcanism and Active Faults) as well as a presentation of the UNESCO Global Geopark and the development of projects to safeguard and promote these sites of interest to local residents and tourists.
Volcanoes and a Petrified Forest
After an introduction by the director of the Natural History Museum of the Lesvos Petrified Forest (associate partner of the Master), the students visited the volcanoes and the pyroclasic sequence of the Western Peninsula. They were amazed to see petrified trees and fossils sites over 20 million years old.
A day of birdwatching at the Kalloni Wetlands
Accompanied by Lesvos museum staff, the students learned about the rich avifauna biodiversity of the island of Lesbos and how the activity is becoming a global event that attracts more and more tourists from all over the world.
Olive oil
A visit to the Industrial Olive Oil Museum in Agia Paraskevi enabled students to learn about one of Greece’s worlwide best-known products. Thanks to the mineral content of the volcanic soil on which nearly 11 million olive trees grow, the oil produced is touted as a top-quality product.
Students tell it from their experience
“The trip to Lesbos was very rewarding from an academic and cultural point of view. As a geologist, it is important to know the geological processes that have taken place in various places around the world, so the fieldrip was very interesting and educational. And furthermore, as a curious human being, getting to know other cultures so different from my country of origin is also an invaluable experience.”
Catalina Astete (Geoconservation – Chili)
“This fieldtrip to Mytilini, Lesvos was a great insight into the formation of petrified forests, and the volcanic activity of the island. Being a student in the Applied Palaeontology track, I did not have much idea about geo-conservation practices and palaeobiological studies. This trip served as an introduction to these fields and helped broaden my perspective. Lesvos is a Greek island with geological, historical and cultural wealth. It was a great opportunity to experience the local Greek culture and cuisine. Since Lesvos is a UNESCO Geopark, it can be a good option for my future research and studies. There is a lot more to explore and study in Lesvos.“
Aditi (Applied palaeontology – India)
“The field trip to Lesvos Island, Greece was a remarkable one for me. It was my first time seeing fossilized trees insitu and experiencing rich cultural and geological heritage of the Lesvos Island UNESCO Global Geopark. The field trip covered various areas of my studies, including paleontology, geoconservation, heritage and geohazards. From the petrified forest park of Bali Alonia, to the natural history museum of the petrified forest at Sigiri, to the Kalloni environmental information center, to the museum of industrial oil production in Agia Paraskevi, to the Polichnitos hot spring and to the village of Vrisa; it was all shades of geoheritage, culture, tradition and history.
The field trip also afforded me the opportunity to visit the beautiful beaches in Lesvos Island and also try some Greek dishes.”
Kingsley (Geoconservation – Nigeria)
