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THE WETLANDS OF ALIKES KITROS
Amongst the rich natural beauty of the County of Pieria, on the edge of Cape Atherida, lies a very special wetland, the lagoon of Alikes Kitros, covering an area of approximately 15.000 stremata (150 sq. kilometres). The currents and sediment of the River Aliakmonas have created the lagoon, and there is much rare vegetation to be found here.
Ecosystems with a high salt content are only suitable for certain types of plant life and organisms, and sandbanks with characteristics similar to those of Alikes Kitros are to be found throughout North Greece. Plants which have adapted to living in these conditions include the Water Lily (Pancratium maritimum), which is one of the most beautiful examples of the flowers to be found in Greece.
These flowers are protected under the regulations governing the preservation of the environment.
In addition to the Water Lily there are many other interesting plants and edible morsels, which provide food for the birds who visit the area. Typical of these are the small, pink Artemia Salina.
163 different species of birds have been identified in the region up to the present, of which 51 have made their nests here. 8 of these are regarded as being of international significance. These include rare and endangered species such as the Avocet, the Water Swallow and the Black Seagull.
One of the largest water turtle populations of the Mediterranean inhabits the lagoon (Testudo hermanni). (It is estimated that between 250 and 1000 occupy each square kilometre.) There are also seven families of Amphibia living here, chief among which are the frogs as well as 15 types of water snake, lizards and tortoises.
Directives protecting this area are 92/43/EOK, the European Ecological Declaration "NATURE 2000" and Alikes Kitros with the Greek registration code 1250004.
Between Alikes Kitros and Platamonas are several small marshes. Typical of these are the ones between Paralia and Olympic Beach (Katerinoskala), the mouth of the River Mavroneri and the mouths of the streams between Paralia and Litochoro. These miniature wetlands welcome a wide range of fowl throughout the year, some of great rarity.
Amongst the rich natural beauty of the County of Pieria, on the edge of Cape Atherida, lies a very special wetland, the lagoon of Alikes Kitros, covering an area of approximately 15.000 stremata (150 sq. kilometres). The currents and sediment of the River Aliakmonas have created the lagoon, and there is much rare vegetation to be found here.
Ecosystems with a high salt content are only suitable for certain types of plant life and organisms, and sandbanks with characteristics similar to those of Alikes Kitros are to be found throughout North Greece. Plants which have adapted to living in these conditions include the Water Lily (Pancratium maritimum), which is one of the most beautiful examples of the flowers to be found in Greece.
These flowers are protected under the regulations governing the preservation of the environment.
In addition to the Water Lily there are many other interesting plants and edible morsels, which provide food for the birds who visit the area. Typical of these are the small, pink Artemia Salina.
163 different species of birds have been identified in the region up to the present, of which 51 have made their nests here. 8 of these are regarded as being of international significance. These include rare and endangered species such as the Avocet, the Water Swallow and the Black Seagull.
One of the largest water turtle populations of the Mediterranean inhabits the lagoon (Testudo hermanni). (It is estimated that between 250 and 1000 occupy each square kilometre.) There are also seven families of Amphibia living here, chief among which are the frogs as well as 15 types of water snake, lizards and tortoises.
Directives protecting this area are 92/43/EOK, the European Ecological Declaration "NATURE 2000" and Alikes Kitros with the Greek registration code 1250004.
Between Alikes Kitros and Platamonas are several small marshes. Typical of these are the ones between Paralia and Olympic Beach (Katerinoskala), the mouth of the River Mavroneri and the mouths of the streams between Paralia and Litochoro. These miniature wetlands welcome a wide range of fowl throughout the year, some of great rarity.
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Click at the photos
General Tourist Guide of Pieria Prefecture
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NATURAL ENVIRONMENT
