Taygetus

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Taygetus
Elevation:	2,410 m (7,900 ft) (Profitis Ilias)
Location:	eastern Messenia western Laconia
Length:	approx. 50 km, north to south approx. from 10 to 20 km from east to west
Easiest route:	climb

Mount Taygetus, Taugetus, or Taigetus (Greek: Ταΰγετος, Taugetos) is a mountain range in the Peloponnese peninsula in Southern Greece. It is the tallest mountain in the Peloponnese, reaching 2407 m at the Profitis Elias summit. The Taygetus range is about 100 km long, extending from the center of the Peloponese to Cape Matapan, its southermost extremity. The summit of Taygetus is an ultra prominent peak (2344 m), as the Isthmus of Corinth which separates the Peloponnese from mainland Greece rises only to ~60 m in altitude.

The mountain is named after the nymph Taygete. Taygetus overlooks the cities of Sparta and Kalamata, whose skyline it domintes. In Byzantine times and up until the 19th century, the mountain was also known as Pentedaktylos (Greek for five-fingered, a common name during that period). The mountain range lies within the prefectures of Arcadia, Laconia and Messenia.

The slopes of Taygetus are heavily forested, primarily with Greek fir (Abies cephallonica) and black pine (pinus nigra). Devastating fires in 2005 and 2007 consumed much of the forests on the central west slopes, and only about half remain. Numerous creeks wash down from the mountains and the Evrotas river has its headwaters in the northern part of the range. The mountain is a popular hiking destination and is part of the European walking route E4. The view from the top includes most of the Evrotas valley and the Parnon range to the east, while the view towards the west includes Kalamata and the eastern half of Messenia. Most of the southwestern part of Arcadia can also be seen from the summity.

Part of Skoteini Plevra

Taygetus is crossed by Greek National Road 82, which links Kalamata to Sparti and separates Northern Taygetus from the Central Range. The Rindomo Gorge separates the Central Range from Southern Taygetos. The section of Taygetus that forms the backbone of the Mani Peninsula is also known as Saggias, and is often not considered part of Taygetus. The central part of the mountain range is commonly called "Skoteini Plevra" which means "the dark side" because the villages located there do not receive as much sunshine in the early morning and the late afternoon hours.

[edit] Human Geography

The slopes of Taygetus have been inhabited since at least Mycenean times. The site of Arkina, near the village of Arna, contains three beehive tombs and is still unexplored. Taygetus was important as one of Sparta's natural defenses. The Spartans threw criminals and "unfit" (weak, sickly, deformed, or mentally retarded) infants into a cave in within Taygetus known as Ceadas (Κεάδας) or Caeadas (Καιάδας). In the antiquity, male Spartan newborns were abandoned there if deemed unfit after examination for vitality. Recent evidence, funded by the University of Athens, discovered remains of adult individuals and claimed that Ceadas was also, or mainly, a place of punishment for criminals, traitors and captives.^[1] During the era of barbarian invasions, Taygetus served as a shelter for the native population. Many of the villages in its slopes date from this period. In Medieval times, the citadel of Mystras was a center of Byzantine cinilzations and served as capital of the Byzantine Empire. Mystras is remarkably well-preserved and today is a major tourist draw in the the region.