Athens landmarks look more like scenes on Mars after dust from the Sahara desert turns the sky and surroundings orange
- Winds from North Africa also sparked forest fires after temperatures soared
Dust from the Sahara desert turned Athens orange yesterday, as clouds over the Mediterranean made the city’s famous landmarks look more like scenes from Mars.
Strong southerly winds from North Africa painted southern Greece in the unusual hue as the day progressed.
And world-famous tourist sights took on a unique appearance after the dust cloud passed over the capital.
Landmarks including the Acropolis, Lycabettus Hill, the Temple of Apollo and Tourkovounia Hill, as well as the bustling city center, were painted orange by the wind.
A couple pictured sitting on the hill overlooking a Martian Athens after southerly winds painted the city in an unusual hue
The city of Athens seen from Tourkovounia Hill after it turned orange thanks to dust from the Sahara Desert
The Temple of Apollo in Corinth, Greece, looked orange after dust flew into the southern coast
Yesterday, Martian skies over the Acrocorinth archaeological site in Corinth, Greece
Saw the Acropolis Hill in a different color yesterday
The Mars-like filter will be short-lived, however, with skies expected to clear on Wednesday as winds change.
The sudden change in weather also caused temperatures to soar, with the mercury on the southern island of Crete reaching 30°C – more than 20°C higher than most of northern Greece.
The strong winds have also fueled unusual forest fires in the south of the country.
On Tuesday evening, the fire brigade said 25 bushfires had broken out across the country in the past 24 hours.
Three people have been arrested on the Aegean holiday island of Paros on suspicion of accidentally starting a forest fire on Monday, the agency added.
No significant damage or injuries were reported and the fire was quickly brought under control.
Another fire that broke out near a naval base in Crete was brought under control on Tuesday.
World-famous tourist sights took on a unique look after the dust cloud passed over the capital (photo, from above)
The Mars-like filter will be short-lived, however, with skies expected to clear on Wednesday as winds change (photo: Temple of Apollo yesterday)
People across the city enjoyed the spectacular views painted in a different shade yesterday
A couple pictured sitting on Tourkovounia Hill as the southerly wind brought waves of Saharan dust. The Mars-like filter will be short-lived, however, with skies expected to clear on Wednesday as winds change
The sudden change in weather also caused temperatures to soar, with the mercury on the southern island of Crete reaching 30°C (86F) – more than 20°C (68F) higher than most of northern Greece (photo : people look at the orange sky in Athens yesterday)
Greece experiences devastating and often deadly forest fires every summer, and last year the country recorded the largest wildfire in the European Union in more than two decades.
Persistent drought, combined with high spring temperatures, has raised fears of a particularly challenging period for firefighters in the coming months.