Forest of Elatia
(or Kara Dere)

We can enter the forest of Elatia by crossing the bridges in Papades, Paranesti or Potamos. If you are coming from the town of Drama, follow the road towards Sidironero, passing the village of Livadero (22km) and after a further 6km you should reach “Touloumbari”. This is a good place to stretch your legs whilst admiring the spectacular view of the lake. Continue over the bridge in Papades which crosses Lake Nestos. Follow the road to Sidironero where there are a couple of good taverns and a grocer’s. After a further 9km you will arrive at Skaloti which is the last village where you can buy supplies for your trip.

Passing through a dense pine forest, you will be struck by the beauty and tranquility of your surroundings. In 2km you arrive at the village Koutra which is used by the Forest Service and here there are several paths suitable for walks or cycling.

There is a great wealth of plant species (700) many of which are peculiar to the Balkans and some of which are rare even in Greece. Moreover, a wide variety of mushrooms are to be seen , some of them edible (Boletus, Shaggymane, Amanita). The only forest of spruce trees in the country is to be found in Elatia where the landscape brings to mind landscapes in central and northern Europe.

The fauna in the area is also rich with species such as the brown bear, the wild boar, the deer, the roe deer, the hare, the wolf, the wild cat, the wood pigeon, eagles, hawks and woodpeckers, among others.

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