Anthropogenic transformation of the relief of the Aegean Islands

The purpose of this article is to present the role of human impact in the forming and transformation of the relief of the Aegean Islands. The most significant changes (with a displacement of more than 10 bln m³ of rock material) are related to the creation of road infrastructure and the construction of agricultural terraces. In order to create stone buildings, 20 mln m³ of rock material was used; for the purposes of air transport a surface area of nearly 2.5 km² was levelled; many kilometres of artificial shorelines were created and at least 4.5 mln m³ of material was displaced for the purposes of the construction of artificial reservoirs of a total capacity of more than 25 mln m³. A huge amount of material was removed as a result of mining activities. The indirect impact of economic activities on the relief of the discussed area includes mainly slope, fluvial and coastal processes.