DISCOVER Apano Meria
INTERACTIVE PATH MAPPING
Tasked with creating a zine and interactive website to showcase the hike in Apano Meria from Kampos to Leia Beach. Focusing on the flora, fauna, and cultural sites encountered along the way to promote environmental and cultural preservation.
Deliverables
Publication of a bilingual brochure to promote the restored path and the path network in general, which will be distributed to tourist establishments in the area.
Digital cartographic mapping of the route and posting on the apanomeria.org website, with educational information (geomorphology, ecosystem, biodiversity, etc.).
To begin I started by conducting deep research in to the history of Syros and the land. This helped me gage what kind of flora and fauna was to be expected in the area. We then set out to see the trail in person. We used digital mapping technology to survey the land and record our precise locations along to route. This helped us digitally map where specific flora, fauna, and landmarks can be seen along the trail. I photographed anything and everything along the trail to then be taken back to camp and reviewed further.
Initial Research
In order to better analyze the information recorded I created archives of each species or landmark noted. This is translated in English and Greek for best convenience. I worked through each image to accurately identify each species captured as well as worked with a geologist, botanist, and historian for further analyzation.
Research Archives
SLIDE 1. WHAT IS APANO MERIA?
When talking of the Apano Meria (Upper Part) of Syros, we mean the whole northern portion of the island, separated from the rest of the island by an imaginary line that goes from the northern extremity of Ermoupoli (Agios Dimitrios) to Ano Syros, Alithini and Kini, and which represents around 45% of the island’s total surface.
The area is mainly characterized by steep and rocky hills covered with bushes (thyme, spiny broom, sage, etc). The shore itself is rocky and craggy, but features also a certain number of beaches of great natural beauty. In the course of the last seven years, the region has seen a significant reduction, sometimes to the point of abandonment, of its traditional economic activities. However, because the road network only stretches to the mountain areas without providing access to the beaches, the zone has been spared from the unregulated touristic developments typical of the south of the island and the other Cycladic islands.
Zine Copy
SLIDE 3. HISTORY
There are two points of view related to the woodland character of the Cyclades through time. According to the first one these islands were always barren with very limited vegetation. Their landscape has changed very little with the passage of time. The second view suggests that these islands were green and forested many years ago, attributing the cause of their present barren face to lumbering, wildfires and various other environmental factors. The more we search the past of the islands the more we discover indications that lead to the conclusion that in past times there was indeed thicker vegetation, and even isolated forests, but the real picture of the islands was far from the “paradise” that the “romantic” second view claims. For the researcher in the field of zoogeography, it is certain that most of the animal species existing today on the islands have existed since old times and either they increased in number, if the environmental changes were favorable, or they decreased due to human activities and the degradation of their habitats.
SLIDE 2. THE TRAIL
Kampos - Mendoni Cave - Lia Beach
Generally considered a moderately challenging route, it takes an average of 1 h 8 min to complete. This trail is great for hiking, running, and walking, and it's unlikely you'll encounter many other people while exploring. The trail is open year-round and is beautiful to visit anytime.
The path starts from the dirt road at Kampos and descends the northern slopes of the ravine of Lia Stream. At its beginning, it meets the Mendoni Cave. The route reaches the small beach of Lia, which can only be accessed by this path and a second one, which comes from Syringa, further southeast. Beautiful views of the surrounding hilly area and the beautiful small bays.
SLIDE 4. PREPARE
Check the weather
Pack a snack
Fill your water bottle
Wear hiking shoes
Wear your clothing in layers, your body temperature will change throughout the hike
Bring sunscreen
Print your map in case of no cell service
Tell someone of your plan
SLIDE 5. PROTECT THE PATH
Stay on the trail. Human foot traffic greatly impacts the flora and vegetation on the ground. Staying on the trail will help protect the beautiful plants and flowers surrounding the path.
Leave it. Don’t pick flowers, touch animals, or move rocks. This can harm the fauna in the area who use the flora for food, disrupt habitats, or scare the animals away.
If you see trash pick it up. One piece of trash may not seem like a big deal however by picking it up you are reducing the odds of an animal ingesting it, reducing the pollution of the trail, and keeping it beautiful for the next hikers.
Leave no trace. Leave the trail and parks just as you experienced them. We want to preserve the environment and trail for others to enjoy.
SLIDE 6. LOOK AROUND
While on the trail use these techniques to truly take in the beautiful scenery.
Find a comfortable place to sit. Take a few deep breaths and when you are ready close your eyes.
What do you hear? Are there brids chirpping? Can you hear the grass rustling in the wind?
What do you feel? Take notice of your seat, is it soft or hard? Can you feel the wind blowing? How about the warmth of the sun on your face?
What do you smell? Can you smell the flowers? Or the salty sea that lies ahead?
If you brought a journal or notebook sit someplace comfortable and begin to take field notes on your surroundings.
Activity 1: Pick a plant and begin to draw it. Focus on the details. What is the texture like? What color is it? Are there buds where flowers can form?
Activity 2: Without picking up your writing utensil or looking down at the paper draw the environment. Start on the left side of the page and begin to follow the curve of the mountains with your eyes. Add in any structures you can see, clouds above the horizon, and the density of plants you can see. Nothing about this exercise has to be perfect, it is suppose to look messy!
ZINE ILLUSTRATIONS
In order to make a more comprehensive and interactive asset for this project we used WordPress to map the coordinates of our research. This interactive map shows where certain species of flora and fauna can be found as well as historical landmarks. Each element when clicked will provide you with a short description of what it is and the history .