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Protected areas

Vikos-Aoos Geopark encompasses the entire area of 3 Natura 2000 sites (Vikos – Aoos National Park, Timfi mt and Central Zagori) and a significant part of three additional Natura 2000 sites {Smolikas mt, Mitsikeli mt and Douskon / Meropi (Nemertsika) mt}.

Moreover, almost the entire area of the Vikos-Aoos Geopark is located in the Northern Pindos National Park, which is the largest mainland protected area in Greece, covering an area of 2.000 km2. It was established in 2005 after the union of two pre-existing smaller National Parks, Vikos-Aoos National Park and Pindos (Valia Calda) National Park.

The Northern Pindos National Park consists of four distinct zones of graded protection. Among the most important zones are the Nature Protection areas and the Habitat and Species Conservation Zone, which both encompass most of the Vikos-Aoos Geopark surface.