Cultural Heritage in the Light of Flood Hazard: The Case of the “Ancient” Olympia, Greece

Flooding poses significant risks to archaeological sites, including the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Ancient Olympia in Greece. A recent study used geoinformatics and hydrological modeling to assess flood hazards in the ungauged Kladeos River basin, revealing that its geomorphological characteristics—such as stream order anomalies and morphology—increase susceptibility to extensive flooding, particularly during severe rainfall events. The research employed a 5 × 5 m digital terrain model (DTM) with rainfall data and hypothetical storms to quantify flood risks, calculating parameters like flow rate and velocity. Findings highlight the vulnerability of Ancient Olympia, emphasizing the need for targeted mitigation strategies to protect its cultural heritage.

Kalogeropoulos, K., Tsanakas, K., Stathopoulos, N., Tsesmelis, D. E., & Tsatsaris, A. (2023). Cultural Heritage in the Light of Flood Hazard: The Case of the “Ancient” Olympia, Greece. Hydrology, 10(3), 61. https://doi.org/10.3390/hydrology10030061