Neotectonic study of northwestern Greece

Abstract

In this paper, a neotectonic map with active faults, at a scale of 1:500,000, of the northwestern Greece is presented and discussed. The elaboration of the Neotectonic Map chiefly aimed at the identification, mapping and assessment of the faults in the region of Epirus, for the added purpose of assessing the area’s seismic hazard. To this end, the related research was largely directed to the detailed study of the tectonic structures, which were classified as active, potentially active and non-active (or unknown age). It is noted that the activity of many old structures continues to this day, as shown by the Neotectonic analysis, in conjunction with the region’s seismicity. The presence of extensive scree deposits on the hanging wall of many faults also indicates their re-activation. For the final compilation and presentation of the map, geological, geomorphological and seismological data were used and assessed. The objective of this map is to provide information about the neotectonic evolution of northwestern Greece.