National Marine Park of Alonissos - North Sporades (NMPANS)

Summer excursion boats and charter craft visit the sheltered bays and sandy beaches of Kyra Panagia, Peristera, Psathoura and Skantzoura.  Visits to Gioura have now been stopped since the impostition of a 400 metre exclusion zone around the island.  The islands are covered with vegetation and have steep rocky coastlines with mountainous interiors.  The exception is Psathoura which is the only volcanic island and where you will find one of the brightest lighthouses in the Aegean.

The islands of the Marine Park are home a number of endangered species of mammals and birds.  The rarest mammal is the Mediterranean Monk Seal which uses the island of Piperi for its breeding ground and hence the island is protected by an exclusion zone of 3 nautical miles (~ 3½ terrestrial miles).  The Marine Park is also home to a number of varieties of dolphins and whales.  The other islands of the marine park are home to a variety of rare species of birds such as Audouin's Gulls, Bonelli's Eagles, Eleonora's Falcons and Shags.  On land the island of Gioura is home to a Wild Goat which is endemic to the island but bordering on extinction.

For more information about the marine park visit the NMPANS web site.