Penteli

Pentéli, (Pentele, Mendeli in medieval times) is a tall mountain and a mountain range situated northeast of Athens and southwest of Marathon. The mountain is mainly covered with forests (aboyt 60 ot 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 Vrilissia, Penteli, Ekali and north of Gerakas. Monastery is founded in the middle of the mountain NE of city centre. A fire in early July 1995 consumed much of the mountain and the eastern half became housing residential areas of Greater Athens. The fire reached almost to the entire mountain. Smoke was humongous, it almost reached the entire northeastern part of Athens. The coverage was seen on all national television stations with the exception of some all day from Friday to Monday. The fire has lasted about 5 days, almost a week. The fire began on Friday and continued into another week. It reached east of Penteli about 5:30 PM local time and then the Pentelis and Vrilissia, which also consumed 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 was the worst forest fires Athens ever seen in the 20th century. Series of fires also consumed after the major fire devastated the mountain range from 1998 to 2001. Much of the fires were arson-related and were arrested. Penteli is also a community currently divided into Palaia Penteli or Old Penteli, and Nea Penteli or New Pentéli municipalities. One of the city hall is located next to city square.