ANATOLIKI MAKEDONIA, THRAKI - Environment
An ecological paradise
The region of Eastern Macedonia and Thrace is perhaps the most important in Greece from an ecological point of view. The wild beauty of the forest-clad mountains with their abundant rainfall, the unique wildlife of the river deltas and lakes with the rare species of birds that nest there, and the islands of Thasos and Samothrace are representative of the region's environment.
The Evros and Nestos deltas, the Kobour-nous marsh and the group of lakes comprising Porto Lago, Bournous, Arogi, Mesi, Mitrikos and Karakatsalis are four wetland areas in the region, which are among the 11 in Greece protected under the Ramsar Convention. Many of the 408 species of birds found in Greece either nest here or rest during migration. However, various bodies and ecologists have expressed their concern at the construction by the National Electricity Board (DEI) of a hydroelectric dam on the River Nestos, which they believe will disturb the highly important aquatic biotope of the delta. The Dadia forest in Evros is regarded as the most important in Europe for birds of prey, 26 rare species of which live in this protected forest. These include Greece's last remaining pairs of imperial eagle, the rare snake eagle and the golden eagle.
The environment on the island of Thasos is struggling to recover from the summer fires that have repeatedly ravaged it, destroying its forests. Rare white Mediterranean seals have been sighted on the island of Samothrace.
The forests of the Greek part of the Rodopi mountain range contain areas of rare beauty and great ecological value. They are one of the last refuges in Europe of the capercailzie and the bear. The northernmost part of the nomos of Drama has the famous Virgin forest, a strictly protected area with dense tracts of conifers.
If information is available, please add comments on the following subjects:
- Pollution and environmental damage
- Measures to protect environment
- Sewerage
- Drinking water
- Waste management
- Telephone network
- Gas and electricity supply
|
|