The National Park of Pindos

The National Park of Pindos, also called Valia Kalda, is a special part of the Pindos mountain range.

Black Pine (Pinus nigra) and Beech (Fagus sylvatica)

It has thick forests filled with trees like black pine and beech.

There are tall mountains, rushing rivers (the Salatouras, the Zesto Rema and the Arkoudorema), many springs and three mountain lakes.

Pinus heldreichii

A very important tree here is the Pinus heldreichii.

The drier areas and lower parts of the valley (=κοιλάδα) have many Buxus sempervirens

Buxus sempervirens plants

plants.

Among the black pine and beech trees, you can also find some Abies borisii-regis trees.

Abies borisii-regis trees

“This area is a natural home for many types of plants and animals. The most important places where you can find rare (=σπάνια) plants are the peaks (=κορυφές) Aftia, Flega, and Kapetan Klidi. They are very steep (=απότομες) and hard for grazing animals to reach. Because of this, the forest can grow back naturally here, and many rare plants can stay safe.”

Dadia Forest

Oaks in Dadia

Dadia Forest is located near a village called Dadia in Thrace. This forest is filled with tall black pines and Turkish pines, mixed with oaks and beautiful green plants.

Tall pine trees in Dadia

The forest is part of the Rodopi mountains, which are also known as Evros Mountains. This area is special because it is at the border of Asia and Europe.

It is an important place for migratory (=αποδημητικά) birds and is home to lots of different animals.

the Cinereous vulture

In Dadia Forest, you can see rare (=σπάνια) European birds of prey (=-αρπακτικά).

One special bird is the Cinereous vulture, which is a symbol of the forest.

White-tailed eagle

Eastern imperial eagle

The eastern imperial eagle and the white-tailed eagle, which is very rare in Greece, also live here. In total, there are 219 types of birds, 40 types of reptiles (=ερπετά) and amphibians (=αμφίβια), 36 types of mammals (=θηλαστικά), and many rare plants.

Mount Olympus Forest Park

Mount Olympus National Park is a special place with many interesting plants. It has 23 unique kinds of plants that only grow there and many more that come from the Alps and western Asia. The mountain is home to many different types of plants.

Viola striis-notata flower

Erysimum olympicum flower

In the forest, some of the unique plants you can find are Viola striis-notata, Erysimum olympicum, and many others.

There are also special plants like Jankea heldreichii, which is very old, and others like Saxifraga scardica, which come from different places.

Jankea heldreichii plant

Yew shrub

The forest has many typical Mediterranean shrubs (=θάμνοι) like holly and yew and many kinds of trees, like oaks, cedar and pine trees.

Oak trees

As you go higher up the mountain, you can find trees like Fagus moesiaca and F. sylvatica in cooler areas, while black pine (Pinus nigra) grows in dry and sunny places. The Bosnian pine makes large forests that go up to the grassy mountain tops.

In the areas close to the top, you can see bright red lilies (Lilium chalcedonicum) and fields of flowers.

Bosnian pine tree in Olympus

Higher on the mountain, these flower fields change into shrubs and smaller plants.

More flowers on Mount Olympus: https://www.topoguide.gr/mountains/macedonia/advs_olymbos/olymbos_flora_en.php

Animals of Mount Olympus

Mount Olympus National Park is also home to many animals, including bugs, rare birds, and different kinds of mammals. The different areas in the forest give a safe place for many animals, from big hunters to small plant-eaters and birds that hunt.

Mountain goats in Olympus.

The mountain goat is one of the many animals here. There are 32 types of mammals and 108 kinds of birds in the forest. However, some of these animals are in danger, like the mountain goat and the golden eagle (Aquila chrysaetos).

Even with these problems, Mount Olympus National Park is famous for its butterflies and has many frogs and reptiles too.