Meanwhile more than a year ago, I joined a student-excursion to the greek island Samothraki. This island is, not only, but especially due to its biogeographical position and geology, highly interesting. In the last glacial period it was connected to the mainland and therefore likely a refuge for many species; which would for example also explain the occurence of some typical mainland lizards. Besides, due to its location in close vicinity to the european mainland and Asia Minor, the fauna and flora of different biogeographical regions can be found on Samothraki.
Regarding the geology, the island consists mainly of igneous rock and on some parts it's possible to find solified lavastreams, a sign of the former vulcanic activity. Also the dimensions are interesting, the top reaches, depending on the reference, around 1611m or a little more, while the area is far smaller than the area of Vienna! So it's more or less a mountain emerging out of the sea.
It has been defenitely one of the two greatest excursions I've attended on "my" university (second one was a glacier practical). And as far as there are some interesting open bills regarding the herpetofauna, i'd really like to visit it again.
Here a small selection of the highlights, as far as it was possible to click them.
