The endless natural wealth and countless beautiful beaches make a trip to the North Aegean a unique experience. Thousands of travellers - explorers, romantics and nature lovers, visit its islands every year, discovering their personal heaven on earth. Wetlands, waterfalls, hiking paths, thematic trails and places of special ecological interest offer unique, restful, relaxed and carefree moments to each and every visitor.

Lesvos, an island of colors and contrast, is a rich green heav - en on earth, with a mild and temperate climate, rich soil and abundant in water. The endless olive groves, pine forests, oaks, walnut trees and rare flora, as well as the unique vol - canic landscape of the western side of the island, with the petrified forest, compose its outdoor beauties and there is no dispute that you will immediately feel like exploring. The entire island of Lesvos has been incorporated as a Geopark in the UNESCO Global Geopark Network. On the island there are three protected areas which belong to the European NATURA 2000 Network: ‘Geras Gulf and Mt. Olympus’, ‘Kalloni Gulf Wetlands’ and the ‘Petrified Forest - Western Peninsula’.

To the west, in the area of Sigri, lies the Petrified Forest. The climate here becomes dry, while the rocks are volcanic. Upon closer inspection one can recognize an enormous variety of plants and animals. Plant fossils can be observed amidst volcanic rock. These fossils are the world renowned ‘Petrified Forest of Lesvos’, which covers an area of 15,000 hectares. Several fossil sites of great interest have been recorded in the area, with clusters of tree trunks and impres - sive volcanic habitats, resulting from volcanic activity in the area some 20 million years ago. For this reason, the Petrified Forest could be characterised as an open window on the geo-historic evolution of the Aegean over the last 20 million years. The Petrified Forest is a unique forest ecosystem that was petrified due to intense volcanic activity. The great number of standing petrified trunks and root systems in full development, prove its indigenous nature.

In the central part of the island lies the Gulf of Kalloni; it covers an enormous area, surrounded by several smaller wetlands. These ecosystems include salt marshes, rivers, reed thickets, olive groves, and pine forests. One can also find many rare orchids. Along the gulf coast there lie 17 natural and man-made wetlands which are home to a large number of birds significant for world biodiversity. Every spring the area is flooded by birdwatchers from every part of the globe. Many rare and protected bird species can be seen here. Sixty six species of migratory birds have been recorded and sixty eight species of birds remain in the wetlands on a permanent basis, including Flamingos (Phoenicopterus ruber), Common Kingfishers (Alcedo attlis), white and black storks (Ciconia ciconia, Ciconia nigra). An impressive variety of plants have also been recorded on Lesvos. Here we can find oak trees, wild peanut trees, wild rosebushes, walnut trees, almond trees, as well as a wide variety of herbs, such as lemon balm, mint, sage, and aniseed. One can also find yellow azaleas here, which do not grow anywhere else in Greece.

With two peaks reaching almost 1000 metres, those of Mt. Lepetymno (968 m.) and, just one metre shorter, Mt. Olympus, Lesvos will easily attract both sea lovers and those who prefer, on a hot August day, to observe it from high above. At the highest altitudes of Mt. Olympus (968m) a variety of trees are cultivated, which rarely appear on Greek islands, such as chestnut, cherry, apple and pear trees. The indigenous alyssum (Alyssum lesbiacum) thrives here, as well as other rare plants. Don’t forget to visit the mountain community of Agiassos and to follow the mountain path through the chestnut trees to Megalochori, affording an enchanting view of the Aegean. In the south part of the island, at Plomari, you will run into quaint villages, golden sandy beaches, rich vegetation and imperious rocks, while a visit by boat to Panagia Kryfi (Secret Madonna) is worthwhile.

Source: North Aegean Region - https://www.pvaigaiou.gov.gr