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The Alistratis cave is located 6 kilometers outside the town of Alistratis Serres in the "rocky" location. The area of the area includes 14,000 square meters, while at a breathing distance from the technical entrance of the cave, there is the gorge of the Aggitis river. The visitor can get there both from Drama and Kavala, as well as from Thessaloniki (via Serres or Asprovalta). The cave is located about 50 km S.E. of Serres, 25 km N.W. of Drama and the 55 km N.W. of Kavala. It is considered one of the most beautiful and largest caves in Greece, possibly in Europe, where nature wanted to show the greatest power of creating decorations and formations. It has been used and can be visited since 1997.
According to Greek mythology, the sphinx used to appear in the gorge of the Aggitis river, which crosses the Alistratis area, in the "rocky" position. It is also said that Pluto, the god of Hades, when he stole Persephone, daughter of the goddess Demeter, led her to the natural canal (canyon), where the Gate of Hades is located. The area mentioned in the mythology is the one located near the tourist Alistratis Cave and its other caves. Its rich decoration includes in addition to huge stalactites and stalagmites in various colors and the rare eccentrics. Eccentrics or helictites are rare formations that are created by "defying" the laws of gravity and following irregular paths. The main feature of this cave - which makes it unique in the Greek area - is the very wide variety of eccentrics. The temperatures of the cave are relatively high (15° -17° C) and due to the reduced ventilation, this temperature is maintained even in winter. The Austrian Dr. Zeeman, who investigated the cave, states that the last rock that fell into it is 700,000 years ago. The ecosystem of the Alistratis cave is of great biological interest, due to its size, the impressive number of bats it hosts and the existence of endemic organisms of the cave, and for this reason biospeleological research is needed. who explored the cave, states that the last rock that fell into it is 700,000 years ago. The ecosystem of the Alistratis cave is of great biological interest, due to its size, the impressive number of bats it hosts and the existence of endemic organisms of the cave, and for this reason biospeleological research is needed. who explored the cave, states that the last rock that fell into it is 700,000 years ago. The ecosystem of the Alistratis cave is of great biological interest, due to its size, the impressive number of bats it hosts and the existence of endemic organisms of the cave, and for this reason biospeleological research is needed.
Editor: Fotini Anastasopoulou
