Penteli
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Pentéli or Pendeli, (Greek: Πεντέλη, ancient forms: Pentele, Pentelikon or Pentelicus, and Vrilissos or Vrilittos (Greek: Βριλησσός, Βριληττός), Mendeli in medieval times) is a tall mountain and mountain range situated northeast of Athens and southwest of Marathon. The elevation is 1,109 m. The mountain is mainly covered with forests (about 60 or 70%). The mountain can be seen in southern Athens (Attica), the Pedia plain, Parnitha, and the southern part of the northern suburbs of Athens. Houses surround the mountain, especially in Vrilissia, Penteli, Ekali and north of Gerakas.
In antiquity, Penteli was famous for its marble which was used for the construction of the Acropolis and other buildings of ancient Athens. Penteli marble is flawless white with a uniform, faint yellow tint, which makes it shine with a golden hue under sunlight. The ancient quarry is protected by law and used exclusively to obtain material for the Acropolis Restoration Project. The roadway used to transport marble blocks from the quarry to the Acropolis in antiquity is a continual downhill and follows the natural lay of the land; it has been researched and fully documented by the chief Acropolis restoration architect, Professor Manolis Korres in his award-winning book "From Pentelicon to the Parthenon".
A monastery is located in the middle of the mountain NE of city centre.
A fire in early July 1995 consumed much of the mountain forest and the eastern half became residential areas of the Athens area. The volume of smoke was tremendous; it nearly covered the entire northeastern part of Athens. All terrestrial television stations covered the fire, with the exception of some times on the weekend. The fire lasted about 5 days; it began on Friday and continued into the next week. It reached east of Penteli about 5:30 PM local time and then the Pentelis and Vrilissia, consuming a couple of houses on Friday night (about 9:00 PM BNST, 7:00 PM UTC), the northern range on Saturday morning, then Rhea on Saturday afternoon, Anoixi on Monday, and Dionysus communities on Saturday. It consumed three quarters of the slopes of Penteli. It was the worst forest fire Athens and Greece had seen in the 20th century.
Series of fires also occurred after the major fire devastated the mountain range from 1998 to 2001. Much of the fires were arson-related and suspects were arrested.
| Statistics | |
|---|---|
| Prefecture: | Attica |
| Metropolitan Area: | Athens |
| Location: | Template:Coor dms |
| Population: (1991) - Total - Density¹ - Rank | 3,197  103.1/km</small> |
| Elevation: -lowest: -centre: -highest: | abound 280 m 422 m(centre) 1,108 m, Penteli |
| Postal code: | 152 36 |
| Area/distance code: | 11-30-210 (030-210) -800 thru 809 |
| Statistical code: | 0138 |
| Car designation: | Y (prev.)Z pres.
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| 3-letter abbreviation: | PDL (Pendeli) |
| Address of administration: | 25 Vas. Konstantinou St. Penteli 152 36 |
Penteli is also a community currently divided into Palaia Penteli or Old Penteli, and Nea Penteli or New Pentéli communities. One of the city halls is located next to city square. It is one of the largest non-municipal communes in the prefecture. About 80% of the non-urban land is Penteli mountain. Its main streets are divided into two one-way streets linking to Kifissia and the other ro Vrilissia and one linking north to Dionyssos and Rea.
The area in the western and the northern portion of Nea Penteli were made up of farmlands. Suburban Much of the population live in larger homes and the population is mainly low to mid density. The forests lie to the north and to the east on the Penteli mountains, some urban areas lie sporadically in the northern and the eastern parts. The part of Penteli lies to the north and northeast.
Nea Penteli has few schools, lyceums, a gymnasium, banks, a post office and a few squares (plateies).
Historical population
| Year | Communal population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1981 | 2,286 | - |
| 1991 | 2,706 (town), 3,197 | 911/39.85% |
| Northwest: Dionysos (community) | North: Dionysos (community) and Nea Makri | Northeast: Nea Makri | |
| West: Nea Penteli (community) |
Penteli (community) | East: Nea Makri | |
| Southwest: Vrilissia) | South: Anthousa (community), Gerakas, Palini and Pikermi (commune) | Southeast: Rafina |