Nature, resplendent, at its best on the island of Kos in Greece.

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Nature, resplendent, at its best on the island of Kos in Greece.

The island of Kos is a blessed island as in contrast with its surrounding islands, it has always had access to an abundance of water and possesses vast fertile plains. It is in fact a very green island especially if you compare it to the likes of Kalymnos or Pserimos. In that light it is not surprising that for centuries the island has been producing a large variety of agricultural products in order to cover not only its own needs but also those of the surrounding islands. As tourism boomed in the late twentieth century farmers became scarcer as most inhabitants could make a better and easier living by working in the tourism industry. This led to a diversification away from tobacco and tomatoes (which were the main produce in the early to mid twentieth century) as more lucrative agricultural activities were developed such as cattle and goat breeding, winemaking (there are currently 5-6 local producers on the island) and the production of honey. More recently, traditional local products such as sweet tomato, sweet aubergine or even a number of cheeses on the back of the increased milk production have reemerged in force.

In order to protect at least part of the natural wonders of Kos, a number of Natura regions have been created allowing nature to flourish

There are a couple of Lakes:

1/the Tigaki salt lake nestled between Tigaki and Marmari is the bigger one, a product of human intervention as it was created in order to produce salt. That endeavor has been abandoned since but the area is rich in its biodiversity welcoming a large number of migratory birds including the more spectacular flamingoes that lately tend to be present all year round.

2/ the Psalidi Lake is a smaller lake, that is still practically a swamp to a large extent. The reeds are numerous and it is difficult to observe the fauna even though there is a little hut which was built specifically for bird watching.

The mountains are numerous with the biggest mountain range covering the South western part of the island where the shores are really abrupt and difficult to access. There are also quite a few mountains in Kefalos but they are mostly bare as opposed to the ones in the Dikaios mountain range where pine forests abound.Nature seems to adapt. On a number of these mountains there are amazing vantage points with stunning views. Zia’s sunset is an all time favorite for most visitors but there are many other places like Old Pyli, mount Psoriaris, or the top of the Dikaios mountain from where you can admire panoramic views of the island and on clear days most of the surrounding islands.

There are also plenty of rivers/streams with abundant water flowing from end of October to April/May. These can mostly be found in the Asclipeion and Dikaios areas and feature a number of waterfalls that are truly impressive. In Kefalos the Mia river is truly an unexpected site, a marvel of nature, in an otherwise very bare terrain. Springs are practically everywhere in all the mountainous regions of the island and some have structures built around them such as the Vourina Spring (a spring from ancient times that still provides Kos Town with most of its water), the Pyli Spring, the Poria Spring, just to name a few. There are also some thermal springs. A couple of them are to be found in the heights just behind the Asclepeion. Not surprising, in the least, since they were after all an important component of the Hippocratic remedy to many ills. One of the springs produces some white water while the other one produces reddish water. These springs are not widely visited, at least not as much as the Thermal Springs in Aghios Fokas where a pool of hot thermal waters awaits you for a dip. Since the 2017 earthquake the emanating heat has risen dramatically and the water in the pool is unbearably warm so most people remain in the periphery where the water mixes with the much colder sea water.

Forests are also omnipresent, Plaka being the obvious favorite with its fauna (peacocks, cats and frogs) an obvious delight for the younger kids. But there are other places where forests are thick such as at the Kardamena recreational area, the Koniario recreational area and all the area around Zia and the heights of the mountains right up to behind the Kos Town area. On the other hand the Kefalos Area and even more so Cape Krikelos are some of the barest areas of the island.

The Greek sun is a powerful attraction for most and there are always some amazing sunrises and sunsets to admire during your stay. Most people focus on the sunsets in the northern part of the island such as in Tigaki, Marmari, Mastichari or even Aghios Theologos as one has to wake up early to enjoy the sunrise in the southern part, say in Kardamena or Kefalos. It is nevertheless a beautiful sight and I often hear of people who go for an early jog just to be immersed in it.

I hope this overview has piqued your interest and tempted you to experience some of the marvels of nature depicted above first hand. For more details you can always click on the link of the places referenced. Enjoy!!!