VALIA CALDA. THE "HOT VALLEY" IN PINDOS MOUNTAIN.

  VALIA CALDA IN PINDOS. 
The Pindos National Park alias Balia Kalnta (hot valley in the Vlach dialect) was founded in 1966 and is one of the greatest and most pristine national parks in the country.
Located between the prefecture of Grevena and Ioannina and its total area reaches 68,990 square meters including the valley of Valia Calda and Arkoudorema and mountains Lygkos and Montenegro.
The Pindos National Park is characterized by high biodiversity. Hosts 17 species of mammals, among them rare and endangered species such as the brown bear, o wolf, the wildcat, the ibex and otters. Seventy bird species, among them rare raptors such as the eagle and the golden eagle, seven species of amphibians, reptiles and ten an extremely rich insect complement the rich fauna of the park.

 The park is covered in low and middle altitudes (1,000 - 1,600 m) with dense forests of beech and black pine, while a higher altitude (1600 - 1900m.) Grows only resistant to cold Robolis (Pinus leucodermis). At an altitude of over 1900 meters extend the glades of the park beautiful alpine meadows, consisting of some shrubs and shrub species. Until today in Forest recorded 415 plant species (among them 18 species of orchids) and 86 species of mushrooms.