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Livaditis
Livaditis
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With the generic name "Livaditis" is characterized a large mountainous region that includes the Chaidou Mountain, the southern part of Kula Mountain and the surrounding peaks. It is bounded in the north of the village Dafnonas, in the east of the villages Rema and Dimario and in the west it extends to the borders between the prefectures of Xanthi and Drama. It consists of the villages Kallithea, Karyofito and the forest Chaidou, the hills of Koula and Gyftokastro, and the areas of Bridge Leonidas and Erymanthos. It is part of the complex of the Rhodope Mountains and is the center of the village Livaditis. It has a rich flora and fauna and it contained parts of a virgin forest, where there is no human intervention (logging roads). Also of great interest there are other endemic plant species, whose national distribution is limited. The central portion is considered of one of the most important areas of occurrence of brown bear throughout Greece. Great is the ornithological wealth of the region, recording approximately 100 species. Among these, there are many species retain there their key populations such as the capercaillie, the grouse, the elatompoufos and karydospastis. With the generic name "Livaditis" characterized a large mountainous region that includes Mount Chaidou the southern part of Mount Kula and surrounding peaks. Bounded north of the village Dafnonas, east of the villages current and Dimario and reaches west to the borders of the prefectures of Xanthi and Drama. It consists of the villages Kallithea Karyofito and the forest Hyde, the hills and Koula Gyftokastro, and Sites "Bridge Leonidas and Erymanthos. It is part of the complex of the Rhodope Mountains and is the center of the village Livaditis. It has a rich flora and fauna and it contained sections and virgin forest, where there is no human intervention (logging roads). Also of great interest as there are other endemic plant species have limited distribution. The central portion is considered one of the most important areas of occurrence of brown bear throughout Greece. Great is the ornithological wealth of the region by recording approximately 100 species. Among these, there are many species retain their key populations such as the capercaillie, the grouse, the elatompoufos and karydospastis. The impressive waterfall of Livaditi, with a height of more than 35 meters, is a natural beauty and an attraction of the mountainous region of Xanthi prefecture. It is the largest waterfall in the Balkans, easily accessible from the city of Xanthi. The visitors have only to follow the path to Stavroupoli and from there after a climb to the village of Livaditis, located at the altitude of 1300 meters. Outside of the village a path starts in an easterly direction which leads to one of the many bridges in the area. The forest road after 7 miles in south-east direction is just 300 meters away from the monumental waterfall of Trachonio (known also as the waterfall of Livaditi). To reach the waterfall, you will need to hike a gentle path, full of beech, maple, ash and linden. Reaching the waterfall the spectacle you see is unique. The water is falling vertically from a height of about 60 meters with a terrible bang, offering rich vegetation in the cracks of rocks. The location conjures the Naiads of ancient myths and folk fairies. As the folklore says, in the waters of Livaditi were bathed the "Kalokyrades" (fairies), while in the caves the fairies’ textile was wove in stone looms. There the Satyrs danced in dionysiac rhythms. Within these primordial forests echoed the songs of Orpheus, son of the Muse Calliope and Apollo, who charmed gods and humans with his guitar. In winter, several times the waterfall freezes and suspended crystals break with a loud noise when the first warm days of spring begin. Around the waterfall there are suitable sites that help visitors to enjoy the spectacle without risks.


  Xanthi
 Mountains
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Menoikio mountain
Menoikio mountain
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An important massif of the refecture of Drama is Menoikio Mountain, which is located on the western edge of the prefecture and is basically the southward sequel of Falakro. Its highest peak is "Mavromata" which belongs to the prefecture of Serres with an altitude of 1,963m, while the highest peak in the prefecture is the "Thamnotopi", with an altitude of 1,952m. It has significant flora, such as beech, chestnut, fir hydrid , black pine, cedar, oak, hornbeam, willow, alders, rowan, maple, ash tree, dogwood, wild roses, blueberry etc. as well as significant fauna including mammals such as wild boarroe, hare, wolf, badge, ferret, etc. Also, the birdlife is very interesting, including short-toed eagle, golden eagle, booted eagle, vulture, kestrel, european honey buzzard, Peregrine Falcon, Sparrowhawk, levant sparrowhawk, booby, capercaillie, grey woodpecker, black woodpecker, backed shrike, bumpkin, apus melba, hoopoe, chiffchaff, finch, Bee-eater etc. The mountain is characterized by intense relief, alpine and subalpine meadows with rich flora, beech forests, the forest of centenarians chestnut trees and rich birdlife that hosts. The flora consists of beech, chestnut, fir, black pine, cedar, oak, hornbeam, willow, alder, rowan, maple, etc. The fauna includes mammals such as wild boar, wolfroe, hare, etc., and the avifauna of the region is also rich (short-toed eagle, golden eagle, eagle, vulture, kestrel, peregrine falcon, owl, capercaillie, etc.).

 

  Drama
 Mountains
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Mount Paggaio
Mount Paggaio
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Mount Paggaio constitutes a massif, extending at prefectures of Serres and Kavala. Its highest summit is the “Mati” (the “Eye”), with an altitude of 1956 meters.

Its contribution is decisive towards preservation of fertility of the region, since many river-channels start from this mountain, in addition to the many springs that also sprout from there.

Mount Paggaio, along with its natural beauty, the large vertical slopes, the wooded steep slopes and the torrents that start from those slopes and in whole with its resemblance to an alpine scenery, was well-known for its luxuriant variety in flora and its rich fauna. And it is not by chance, that in this region, among beeches, oak trees and plane trees were created the theater companies that praised god Dionysus. These companies, with the rich tones of music, composed -along with the Satyrs- ecstatic scenery which was in total harmony with the animal instincts and actions of humans. Today, through more peaceful nature elements, released from the mountain’s orgiastic characteristics, it composes a unique and remarkable ecosystem.

Since Antiquity, this place was famous due to its gold mines, which were a cause for conflict for various cities during the ancient times, while they are said to be the main source of income for the financing for the expedition of Alexander the Great against the Persians. Today, the field of mining is much known in the region and constitutes a large part of the exporting activity. By general consent, Mount Paggaio is the second most historical mountain of Hellas, after Mount Olympus; a mountain filled with gold, as recorded by historical texts.

As far as the natural beauty of Mount Paggaio is concerned, in combination with the divine colors reflected by its summits to neighboring seaside stretches of the region, one could say that they compose a particularly mystical environment, affected by its purely mountain characteristics and inspires the visitors in a unique way, challenging them to explore this gold-bearing mountain, through paths, caves filled with rock paintings and pure elements of alternative tourism.

 

As for religious tourism in the region of Paggaio, the Monastery of Panagia Eikosifinissa lies on the northern side of the mountain, at an altitude of about 600 meters, built on the slope of a hillock, at the top of which pre-existed an ancient Greek temple. The monastery can be accessed from the western side, through the regional road network of Prefecture Serres.

 

“Watching over Strymonas Bay on the one hand the cone silhouette of Mount Athos and on the other hand the summit of Paggaio, I have wondered many times which of the two mountains was entitled to bear the title 'Holy Mountain’ in world history. For, if the State of the Monks in Mount Athos is a unique, worldwide phenomenon of spiritual purification, Mount Paggaio is included in those religious qualities, whose influence shall never be denied by anyone, although it is not easy to appraise it”. (This is how the archaeologist and professor of University of Nancy, Paul Perdrizet prefaced his book “Cults and myths of Paggaio” at the beginning of the 20th century.)

 

Mythology

 

The first name of the mountain was Karmanion. It took its present name by the son of the god of war, Ares (Mars) and Kritovouli, Paggaios, who was bound for ever with this place with the tragic event of his suicide;  he threw himself from the summit of the mountain, full of remorse for unwillingly provoking incest with his daughter. However, the most important figure known in this place was Dionysus, God of wine, after having been banished to this mountain by Lykourgos the king of Thrace. The God’s revenge towards the king was immediate; he first made him drunk and then tricked him in killing his own son, thinking he was a vineyard at lopping time and, as if that punishment wasn’t enough, he cursed the land to remain fruitless until the king himself was killed. According to the most popular version in mythology, the king was killed in this mountain, tied, with wild horses kicking him to death. There is also reference among the Bacchae and the mountain priests that Orpheus, who worshipped the sun, used to climb up to the summit every dawn and praised it, being the first one of the humans to welcome it.

 

Climbing

 

Over the picturesque village of Nikisiani, on the northern side of the mountain commands one of the highest summits, known as Trikorfo. It consists of vertical cliffs and towers, which vary in altitude from 150-250 meters and are described by many experts as a high level climbing field. For more information, visit the Kavala Greek Mountaineering Club (Ε.Ο.Σ.) webpage at www.eoskavalas.gr

 

Fauna:

Wolves, Wild Boars, Foxes, Badgers, Roe Deer, Eagles, Hawks, Owls, Horn Owls, Bats

 

Flora:

Beeches, Chestnut Trees, Plane Trees, Oak Trees, Almond Trees, Pine Trees, Mistletoes, Paeonies, Lilies, Holm-oaks.

 

Ilias Kotsireas


  Kavala
 Mountains
Ribbon
Pangaio Mountain
Pangaio Mountain
0 Reviews

Pangaio Mountain is known, from the ancient years, for its rich natural resources: minerals, forest wealth and rare natural beauty. It is located in the west side of the Kavala prefecture, at the boundaries of the Prefecture of Serres. The forest have a total area of 11,239.50 hectares and consists of 5,121.80 hectares of beech, 1,955.92 hectares of mixed stands of beech - oak - chestnut - fir and deciduous broadleaf and evergreen broadleaved 4,161.78 hectares, mainly holm. All the forest ecosystem is a habitat rich in wildlife and a large part of it is a declared wildlife sanctuary. In terms of flora, in the ecosystem it can be found a wide variety of species, many of which, especially grasses, are rare or even endemic of the area.Moreover, the Pangaio Mountain is also declared an Historical and Archaeological Site (FEK 367/tefchos B/26-6-81 and YA A1/F18/31358/1074/18-6-81). The visitors can tour the villages of Pangaio Mountain to see the traditional architecture with stone bridges, to feel the intense religious spirit that testify the plaenty monasteries and churches, and savored the delights of the area. In terms of forest recreation, the forest ecosystem of Pangaio, the latests few years, the visitors participating in various activities, such as hiking mountain in trails and the European path E4, as well as hang gliding, rock climbing, mountain biking etc. while they are also being able to stay daily in organized outdoor recreational spaces. Even today, in Pangaio, operates prefabricated forest lodges, forest village and ski resort. 


  Kavala
 Mountains