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Do not fill this in! === Environment === [[File:Smog Athens.jpg|thumb|Smog in Athens]] By the late 1970s, the pollution of Athens had become so destructive that according to the then Greek [[Minister for Culture (Greece)|Minister of Culture]], Constantine Trypanis, "...the carved details on the five the caryatids of the [[Erechtheum]] had seriously degenerated, while the face of the horseman on the Parthenon's west side was all but obliterated."<ref>{{Cite magazine |date=31 January 1977 |title=Acropolis: Threat of Destruction |url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,918645,00.html |magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930095951/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,918645,00.html |archive-date=30 September 2007 |access-date=3 April 2007}}</ref> A series of measures taken by the authorities of the city throughout the 1990s resulted in the improvement of air quality; the appearance of smog (or ''nefos'' as the Athenians used to call it) has become less common. Measures taken by the Greek authorities throughout the 1990s have improved the quality of air over the Attica Basin. Nevertheless, air pollution still remains an issue for Athens, particularly during the hottest summer days. In late June 2007,<ref name="outraged">{{Cite news |last=Kitsantonis |first=Niki |date=16 July 2007 |title=As forest fires burn, suffocated Athens is outraged |work=International Herald Tribune |url=http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/07/16/news/greece.php |access-date=3 February 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070918215853/http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/07/16/news/greece.php |archive-date=18 September 2007}}</ref> the Attica region experienced a number of [[2007 Greek forest fires|brush fires]],<ref name=outraged/> including a blaze that burned a significant portion of a large forested national park in [[Parnitha|Mount Parnitha]],<ref name="ypexode">{{Cite press release |date=18 July 2007 |publisher=Hellenic Ministry for the Environment, Physical Planning, & Public Works |url=http://www.minenv.gr/download/2007-07-18.sinenteksi.typoy.Parnitha.doc |quote=Συνολική καμένη έκταση πυρήνα Εθνικού Δρυμού Πάρνηθας: 15.723 (Σύνολο 38.000) |language=el |access-date=15 January 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080216035359/http://www.minenv.gr/download/2007-07-18.sinenteksi.typoy.Parnitha.doc |archive-date=16 February 2008 |script-title=el:Συνέντευξη Τύπου Γ. Σουφλιά για την Πάρνηθα |format=.doc}}</ref> considered critical to maintaining a better air quality in Athens all year round.<ref name=outraged/> Damage to the park has led to worries over a stalling in the improvement of air quality in the city.<ref name=outraged/> The major waste management efforts undertaken in the last decade (particularly the plant built on the small island of Psytalia) have greatly improved [[water quality]] in the Saronic Gulf, and the coastal waters of Athens are now accessible again to swimmers. ==== Parks and zoos ==== [[File:Pedion_Areos08_25_05_623000.jpeg|thumb|The [[Pedion tou Areos]] park]] [[File:20140410 60 Athens National Gardens (13824726745).jpg|alt=|thumb|The entrance of the [[National Garden of Athens|National Gardens]], commissioned by [[Amalia of Oldenburg|Queen Amalia]] in 1838 and completed by 1840]] [[Parnitha]] National Park is punctuated by well-marked paths, gorges, springs, torrents and caves dotting the protected area. Hiking and mountain-biking in all four mountains are popular outdoor activities for residents of the city. The [[National Garden of Athens]] was completed in 1840 and is a green refuge of 15.5 hectares in the centre of the Greek capital. It is to be found between the Parliament and [[Zappeion]] buildings, the latter of which maintains its own garden of seven hectares. Parts of the City Centre have been redeveloped under a masterplan called the ''Unification of Archeological Sites of Athens'', which has also gathered funding from the EU to help enhance the project.<ref name=EUfund/><ref>{{Cite web |title=Eaxa :: Ενοποιηση Αρχαιολογικων Χωρων Αθηνασ Α.Ε |url=http://www.astynet.gr/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090228090100/http://www.astynet.gr/ |archive-date=28 February 2009 |access-date=21 March 2009 |publisher=Astynet.gr}}</ref> The landmark [[Dionysiou Areopagitou Street]] has been pedestrianised, forming a scenic route. The route starts from the [[Temple of Olympian Zeus (Athens)|Temple of Olympian Zeus]] at Vasilissis Olgas Avenue, continues under the southern slopes of the Acropolis near [[Plaka]], and finishes just beyond the [[Temple of Hephaestus]] in [[Thiseio]]. The route in its entirety provides visitors with views of the Parthenon and the [[ancient Agora of Athens|Agora]] (the meeting point of ancient Athenians), away from the busy City Centre. The hills of Athens also provide green space. [[Mount Lycabettus|Lycabettus]], [[Philopappos Monument|Philopappos hill]] and the area around it, including [[Pnyx]] and [[Ardettos hill]], are planted with pines and other trees, with the character of a small forest rather than typical metropolitan parkland. Also to be found is the [[Pedion tou Areos]] (''Field of Mars'') of 27.7 hectares, near the [[National Archaeological Museum, Athens|National Archaeological Museum]]. Athens' largest zoo is the [[Attica Zoological Park]], a {{convert|20|ha|acre|abbr=off|adj=on}} private zoo located in the suburb of Spata. The zoo is home to around 2000 animals representing 400 species, and is open 365 days a year. Smaller zoos exist within public gardens or parks, such as the zoo within the National Garden of Athens. Summary: Please note that all contributions to Christianpedia may be edited, altered, or removed by other contributors. If you do not want your writing to be edited mercilessly, then do not submit it here. You are also promising us that you wrote this yourself, or copied it from a public domain or similar free resource (see Christianpedia:Copyrights for details). Do not submit copyrighted work without permission! Cancel Editing help (opens in new window) Discuss this page