The Elatia forest is part of the Central Rhodope mountain range and is one of the most beautiful forests in Greece. It is located at a distance of 60 km from the center of Drama and is full of firs of the spruce species which is found mainly in the Scandinavian countries and in our country is found only in the area of Drama.
Fir trees can reach up to 60 meters in height, while many are 300 years old. In the forest of Elatia there are black pines, beeches, chestnuts, maples, oaks, cedars as well as wild roses and blueberries. In the western part of the mountain there is also an impressive birch forest. Elatia or Karadere as the forest is also known, hosts a multitude of wild animals such as bears, wolves, jackals, wild boars, foxes, deer, badgers, weasels and various types of birds such as eagles, hawks and woodpeckers.
The Virgin Forest is the only one in the country and is considered the most important of its kind in Europe. It was registered as virgin (area 11,000 sq.m.) in 1979 and immediately in 1980 it was declared a preserved nature monument, due to its great phytogeographical, ecological and historical value. It is located at the northeastern end of the prefecture of Drama, below the highest peak of the Central Rhodopes at 1,953 m.
From then until today, it is under absolute protection, since no human activity is allowed except for scientific research. It is virgin, because its evolution followed the rules of nature and has not been disturbed by man for at least 500 years. The form of the virgin differs from the common forests, because it coexists with various species of broadleaved and conifers from young ages and heights to old or dry trees of great height.
Visibility is low due to the dense vegetation, while it is impassable due to the existing trees. In the virgin the possibility of encountering some wild animal is great, because they are found in large populations and are not afraid of our presence, since they are not used to human disturbance. Around the virgin there is a wider protective zone which together with it is called Fraktou forest.
