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The wolves were brought in because the increased elk population was overgrazing the deciduous, woody species such as aspen and cottonwood.

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The flora of the Thessaly Region presents a considerable variety. Only in the Greater Kato Olympus area, about 1,000 species have been recorded, of which 155 are considered to be particularly important, while 45 are protected by international conventions.

The species of fauna that we can mention in the area, as indicated in the program, is the predatory fauna, which is found in the wider region.

Ossa, Tempi, Kato Olympos, Delta of Pinios belong to the 113 Important Bird Areas of Greece. There are at least 120 bird species.

Prefecture of Karditsa

The forests of broad-leaved oak and mixed, fir and oak dominate. Approximately 650 species of plants have been recorded. A common feature of the Agrafa Peaks is the forest cover up to 1500-1800 m and the extensive slopes with the meadows plateaus.

The fauna in the prefecture is extremely rich and interesting, because it includes a large number of invertebrates and vertebrates and on the other hand the populations of these species are in a satisfactory condition.

The area of ​​Plastira Lake hosts about 70 species of avifauna and from large mammals there are fox, wolf and bear.

Prefecture of Larissa

More than 1500 species of plants have been recorded and 23 of them are locally endemic and grow in the alpine landscape.

Especially in the mountain of Kissavos, the north and east side of it has forests of beech, oak, chestnut trees, while dense vegetation, with other bush, reaches up to the Aegean coast.

Several mammals exist in the mountain, which is a controlled hunting area and there is a game farm of the forest.

In Olympos some mammals and certain species of birds are found. Typically, the wolf, the jackal, the wild boar, the squirrel, the hare, the fox, the whitewhite, the vulture, the gypsy, etc.

Prefecture of Magnesia

In the central part of the mountainous area a dense beech forest with excellent structure extends. Chestnut forests are mainly found on the eastern slopes and in the south, under the beech forest. All Pelion runs through streams with riparian forests with plane trees and alder trees.

The flora of Pelion is rich in common species, especially in the field of medicinal herbs, but also includes endemic and rare species.

The fauna is interesting. Many invertebrate species have been recorded, many of which are endemic and rare. In addition, the area hosts rare and protected species of amphibians and reptiles.

There are still species of wet habitats, quite rare in Greece, while sea caves in the Aegean are shelter and breeding grounds for a significant population of Mediterranean monk seal.

The Northern Sporades can be considered to be characterized by a highly developed vegetation, with a marked diversion from island to island, from region to region. Vegetation can generally be described as a typical Mediterranean, while it is worth noting that forest vegetation covers 68.8% of the islands.

More specifically, on the island of Skiathos, based on the prevailing bioclimatic conditions, the expected climatic groups of vegetation belong to "Oleo - Ceratonion" (olive - carving zone), with various dominant aspects.

The island of Skiathos also has the "Koukounaries" forest, consisting of Aleppo pine (Pinus halepensis) and Pinus pinea, while Skopelos is the most forested island in Greece, since the forest percentage exceeds 49% its coverage. A total of 549 plant species have been recorded on the island.

Also, there is the lonely yellow coral and the precious red coral (Corallium rubrum), as well as the bloom on sponges (Axinella verucosa and Agelas oroides). Commercial sponges (Spongia sp.) Are also being developed.

Throughout the marine area around the islands of the Northern Sporades, which is a rich fishing area, there is a rich aquatic bird, both in number of species and economic value.

Additionally, the marine area of ​​the Northern Sporades has been designated "Marine Park" and is protected by a Presidential decree, based on the Ramsar Convention.

The Monachus monachus (Monachus monachus) population in the Northern Sporades is also unique, as it is naturally reproduced in the Northeastern region and is of particular biological and ecological importance.

Prefecture of Trikala

Up to 1,000 meters there are oaks, plantains, hollies and various shrubs. Higher, we encounter chestnut, beech forests and dense fir forests.

There are many species of grass in alpine meadows and a multitude of aromatic plants such as tea, oregano, etc. Many species are birds, and some eagles are also missing.

Greater and richest in Greece is representation in mammals such as wolf, brown bear, fox, deer and deer, and other smaller ones.

The tops of the main mountains of the area are smooth, with forests mainly of fir and oak and the slopes are easy.

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Throughout the region of Thessaly, important biotopes are being developed. Although for most people their position has been determined, analytical studies have only been carried out in some cases, which makes their assessment difficult.

In the prefecture of Karditsa there are two wetlands. One is located in the artificial lake Plastiras and the second one is on the river Acheloos, on the borders of the prefectures of Aitoloakarnania and Karditsa.

In the prefecture of Larissa, wetlands include the area of ​​Pinios, in the area of ​​Stomios, the river Pinios, the river Elassonitikos and the river Titarisios.

In the prefecture of Magnesia there is the wetland of Lake Karla. Still, the area of ​​the bay of Sourpi is located in the area. Finally, the lakes of Skiathos, Vromolimni, Strofylia and Agios Georgios are important biotopes for the flora and fauna of the area. In the Prefecture of Trikala there is the wetland of Aspropotamos (Acheloos) on the borders of the Trikala and Arta prefectures and the wetland of the river Lethaiou.

Thermal springs

In the Region of Thessaly, due to its lands, there is plenty of scattered spas. Several of the thermal springs are utilized and recorded by the Greek National Tourism Organization (EOT), which means they have rudimentary infrastructure.

The most important thermal springs in the Region are: Smokovo, Katsia, Souladas, Bravas, Alitaraki, Bromoneri, Lugo, Way, Stampa and Plastira.

These sources are suitable for rheumatic, arthritic, skin, gynecological diseases as well as respiratory diseases.

The majority of them remain unused, except in a few cases, such as the Smokovo, Kaitsia and Dranitsa baths in N. Karditsa.

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The water map of Thessaly is quite rich. There are several rivers and torrents that spring from the mountains of Thessaly and cross the periphery by exposing the Aegean Sea. The Region is crossed by Pinios, one of the largest rivers in the country. More specifically, the rivers flowing through the prefecture of Karditsa are derived from Agrafa and Pindos in general.

The main rivers are Tavropos or Megdovas, Kerasiotis and Megalo river, the river Acheloos that originates from Pindos and is the natural border with the prefecture of Arta. From Agrafa comes Sofaditicus and Kardisiotikos, which flows into Peneus.

The rivers flowing through the prefecture of Larissa are Pinios, which flows from Antichasia and flows into the Aegean Sea, Elassonitikos, Titarisios, which originates from Mount Titor and Enipeas, which originates from Orthry.

Also, the hydrological grid of the prefecture is complemented by Xerias, Smolyotes, Sarantaporos, Voulgaras and Paliomantanos.

The prefecture of Magnesia does not have a hydrological grid, but only a few torrents in the island section.

The hydrological system of the Prefecture of Trikala is rich and includes Peneios, Aspropotamos that springs from the mountains of Pindos and crosses part of the Arta-Trikalon border and continues in the prefectures of Karditsa and Aitoloakarnania.

There are also several important rivers that are considered to be tributaries of Pinios, such as Litheos, Neochoritis, Portatoos, Dolleritis and Mourganis.

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The Region of Thessaly is bounded by a series of mountains, which are its natural boundaries with the other neighboring regions, but also the sea.

It is characterized by two continuous, geographically, mountainous areas, which do not follow the administrative division of the country, since up to now the mountainous area has not been treated as a whole.

The two sets of mountains are the part of the Pindus mountain range and the whole of the neighboring mountains of Olympus.

More specifically, in the prefecture of Karditsa there is the complex of Agrafa, which is the natural boundaries of the prefecture and the region, south and west.

From the entire mountainous area of ​​the prefecture of Karditsa, only the mountainous area surrounding Lake Plastiras has been developed touristy over the last decade.

The prefecture of Larissa, besides having mountainous areas, includes the highest mountain in the country. It extends from Mount Olympus to Ossa and Orthry.

It presents a multitude of mountains, which form its natural boundaries with the Region of Western Macedonia, but also with the prefecture of Magnesia.

The prefecture of Magnesia has its north-eastern part of Pelion and in the south of Othry. Pelion is an important attraction for both winter and summer tourism because it combines the two main tourist poles, sea and mountain villages.

Othrys is the southern border of the prefecture of Magnesia with the prefecture of Fthiotida. Despite its advantageous position, Otrys has not yet developed - from a tourist point of view - significantly.

The Prefecture of Trikala has a variety of mountains, with significant peaks, similar to the prefecture of Larissa. The mountainous feature is very intense, so it is considered as a mountainous prefecture, with 66% of the area being mountainous.

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Thessaly occupies the east side of the Pindus watershed, extending south from Macedonia to the Aegean Sea. The northern tier of Thessaly is defined by a generally southwest-northeast spur of the Pindus range that includes Mount Olympus, close to the Macedonian border. Within that broken spur of mountains are several basins and river valleys.

The easternmost extremity of the spur extends southeastward from Mt. Olympus along the Aegean coast, terminating in the Magnesia Peninsula that envelops the Pagasetic Gulf(also called the Gulf of Volos), and forms an inlet of the Aegean Sea. Thessaly's major river, the Pineios, flows eastward from the central Pindus Range just south of the spur, emptying into the Thermaic Gulf.

The Trikala and Larissa lowlands form a central plain which is surrounded by a ring of mountains. It has distinct summer and winter seasons, with summer rains augmenting the fertility of the plains. This has led to Thessaly occasionally being called the "breadbasket of Greece".

The region is well delineated by topographical boundaries. The Chasia and Kamvounia mountains lie to the north, the Mt. Olympus massif to the northeast. To the west lies the Pindus mountain range, to the southeast the coastal mountains of Óssa and Pelion.

Several tributaries of the Pineios flow through the region.