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| Pindos National Park (Valia Calda) |
Pindos National Park (Valia Calda) , is the national park that of mountainous region of "Zesti Koilada", and area rich in pine and beech pine trees. The Park was establised in 1966, it covers an area of 7000 hectares of which 3300 are the center and the rest is the district zone of the the forestry.
On the outskirts of the Forestry located are the villages of: Vovousa, Perivoli, Krania, Milia Flampourari, Greveniti and the small town of Metsovo while inside the forest there are no settlements.
The visitor can come in contact with the wild beauty of this forested area, from the Prefecture of Ioannina through the provincial road of Metsovo-Milia-Grevena, the provincial road towards the villages of Greveniti, Flampourari and Vovousa, as well as from the region of Grevena through the provincial road of Grevena- Mavranea - Peripoli and through the provincial road of Grevena - Krania- Milia- Metsovo.
Crystal clear are the waters of the rivers in the forested area of Aoos and the rapid waters of the river Arkoudorema They are surrounded in the distance the mountainous range of Lygkos with peaks over 2000 meters: Avgo (2177m), Pirostia (1967m), Kakoplevri (or Milia 2160m), Flegga (2159m), Tria Sinora (2050m), Aftia (2082m), Kapetan Klidi (2036m), Salatoura (2019m), and Dikorfo (1977m)
In the lower and middle heights (1000m - 1600m), forests of black pine (Pinus nigra) and beech pine (Fagus Sylvatica) stretch out. In the highest areas (1600m - 1900m), grows only one type of tree capable of withstanding the cold temperatures, that of the balcan pine (pinus leucodermis) and which could be considered a living monument of nature. In the greatest heights (1900m - 2177m.), Above the ultimate height of the forest stretch the alpian meadows, composed only by some types of bushes. A characteristic of the Pindos forestry are the small streams and the existence of many small lakes - the largest ones being that of Lakkos at Avgo at 1600 m. and the two lakes of Fleggas at 1950 m.
 The lakes of Fleggas |
 Streams at the National Forest |
The purity and the ecological value of the mountainous ecosystem of the Pindos National park is immense, and is a refuge for many wild animals. In this area many species are protected, 7 amphibian species, 10 species of serpent, 70 species of birds and 17 species of mammals, while it is unknown what the contribution is to the protection of the many insects. The Forest also holds 415 species of plants and 86 species of mushroom.
In one of the few remaining refuge's in Europe, in the far away forests and hard to reach slopes, away from the fear of man, rare mammals find refuge: the bear (Ursus arktos) the wild cat (Felis sylvestris), the lynx (Lynx lynx), the deer (Capreolus capreolus) and wild goats (Rupicapra rupicapra), while in the crystal clear waters of the rivers, lives an amphibious mammal, the otter (Lutra lutra). The bats (Chiroptera), the most advanced flying mammals, mark the night life of the forest. Until today up to 5 types of bats have been found in this area, with most common being niktovatis (Nyctalys noctula).
 Wildgoat |
 Bear |
The kingdom of predator birds, the Forestry protects 10 types of rare species, one of them being king eagle(Aquila heliaca), golden eagle(Aquilla chrysaetos), lavant sparrow-hawk (Accipiter brevipes) and the lanner falcon (Falco biarmicus). In total more than 70 types of birds are known to live in the Forests of Pindos. One of the rare birds is shore lark (Eremophilla alpestris), bird of the alpine meadows and Lanius excubitor which comes every summer from Africa. The large and mature forests of the area welcome 8 types of woodpeckers: white back woodpecker (Dendrocopus leucotos), middle spotted woodpecker (Dentrocopus medius), nano woodpecker (Dendrocopus minor) and black woodpecker (Dentocopus martius).
In the wet climate 10 species of serpents survive. Including Coronella austriaca, Coluber austriaca and the lake snake (Natrix tessellata).
The many waters of the streams, lakes and springs are full of amphibian life (7 species). The alpine newt (Triturus alpestris), which resembles a little dragon, it lives in the mountainous lakes, being most common in the two lakes of Flegga at 1950 m. In summer the visitor can easily recognized the Bombina variegata, the Greek frog (Rana graeca), the Bufo bufo, Bufo viridis and the salamander (Salamandra salamandra). In the big streams the trout lives (Salmo trutta fario). In the lower areas there are other types of fish such as Kefalos of the sweet waters (Leusiscus cephalus) and Chondrostoma nasus.
The plant life in the forestry is quite rare. In total 415 types of plants have been found. Centaure of the mountains Centaurea vlachorum is found no where else in the world except here. Other types are found only in central and northern Greece, such as Silene pindicola, Fritillaria eprirotica and many more. There are also other types of plants found only in Greece and Albania, such as cistus albanicus, the Albanian viola (viola albanica), Thymus teucrioides, Dianthus haematocalyx ssp.pindicola, Pindus yellow Lilly Lillium albanicum and more. Also other types found in the whole Balkans only, such as Dianthus deltoides ssp.degenii, Minuartia baltdacii, the Blacan pine (pinus leuchodermis) and Allium breviradum. Rare species of the Pindos forests, typical of the lower geological layers are, minuartia baldaci, Bormuellera tymfaea, Leptoplax emarginata, Campanula hawkinsiana, viola Viola dukadjinica, silene pindicola.
 Rare flowers |
 Flora at the Nat. Forest |
 The flora |
The National Forest is composed of the center and circumference. In the center walking is allowed but the opening of new paths is not allowed well as, digging, digging for rocks and other materials, the destruction of geological formations, the establishing of industrial exploitation's, housings and other buildings, grazing, the placement of advertising boards e.t.c.
Especially the visitors as well as the locals, must know that the collection of any kind of organism is not allowed, the cutting of trees and the collection of herbs, hunting, fishing, camping and staying in the center after the setting of the sun, the lighting of fires and littering with garbage and waste from building constructions. For some activities such as using the rivers for kayaking and rafting a special clearance is needed from the local forestry. In the area that includes the circumference of the forestry, the general laws that govern the rest of the natural habitats in Greece are in force, with special adjustments for each situation.
Photographs & Text: X. Papaioanou, Biologist
Valia Calda Refuge
K. Giannoulis - I. Vrazitoulis
Vovousa of Zagori Ioannina
Tel. Ioannina: +30 2651 029445, 022226
Tel. Vovousa: +30 2656 022200
E-mail: info@katafigiovaliacalda.com
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