- North African winds also caused forest fires after rising temperatures
Dust from the Sahara Desert turned Athens orange yesterday as clouds blowing across the Mediterranean Sea made the city’s famous monuments look more like scenes from Mars.
Strong southerly winds from North Africa painted southern Greece in an unusual hue as the day progressed.
And world-famous tourist sites took on a unique look after the dust cloud covered the capital.
The winds turned iconic sites, such as the Acropolis, Lycabettus Hill, the Temple of Apollo and Tourkovounia Hill, as well as the bustling city centre, orange.
A couple pictured sitting on the hill looking out over a Mars-like Athens after southerly winds painted the city 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, looking orange after dust blew towards the southern coast
Martian skies photographed yesterday over the Acrocorinth archaeological site in Corinth, Greece
The Acropolis hill seen yesterday in another color
However, the Mars-type filter will be short-lived and skies are expected to clear on Wednesday as winds change.
The sudden climate change also caused temperatures to soar with the mercury reaching 30°C (86°F) on the southern island of Crete, more than 20°C (68°F) higher than most of northern Crete. Greece.
Strong winds have also fueled unseasonable forest fires in the south of the country.
On Tuesday night, firefighters reported that 25 wildfires had broken out across the country in the past 24 hours.
Three people were arrested on the Aegean resort island of Paros on suspicion of accidentally starting a brush fire on Monday, the service added.
No major damage or injuries were reported and the fire was quickly contained.
Another fire that broke out in Crete near a naval base was brought under control on Tuesday.
World-famous tourist sites took on a unique look after the dust cloud swept over the capital (pictured, from above)
However, the Martian-type filter will be short-lived and skies are expected to clear on Wednesday as the winds change (pictured: the Temple of Apollo yesterday).
People from all over the city were able to enjoy the spectacular views that were painted in a different tone yesterday.
A couple photographed sitting on Tourkovounia Hill, as southerly winds carried waves of Saharan dust. However, the Mars-type filter will be short-lived and skies are expected to clear on Wednesday as winds change.
The sudden climate change also caused temperatures to soar, with the mercury reaching 30°C (86°F) on the southern island of Crete, more than 20°C (68°F) higher than most of northern Crete. Greece (pictured: people looking at the orange skies in Athens yesterday).
Greece suffers devastating and often deadly wildfires every summer, and last year the country recorded the largest wildfire in the European Union in more than two decades.
The persistent drought, combined with high spring temperatures, has raised fears of a particularly challenging period for firefighters in the coming months.