The forests of Greece are distinguished perhaps not so much by their size as by their beauty and the rarity of the species they harbor, such as the forest of Ainos.
A rich flora and fauna that in any case offers unique images, flavors and experiences that are unforgettable for a lifetime. Walking on their paths, you will have the opportunity to discover rare beauties of Greece and rare species of flora.
The Ainos National Park in Kefalonia has a total area of about 30,000 hectares. Of this, it is particularly interesting that 2/3 of it is covered by the only species of fir in the world, which is called endemic Kefalonian Fir. So in this natural paradise you can find this rare plant species. But also the fauna of Ainos is something very special. Because many animal species have found a refuge in this National Park. For example, semi-wild horses and foxes.
Ainos National Park is one of the few island national parks and that definitely makes it special. A true natural monument that has attracted thousands of visitors from the country and beyond. After all, it is this natural wealth of mountains that adorns the mountainous landscape of the entire island. Moreover, the area of Ainos in Kefalonia. is a protected habitat of the Natura 2000 network.
As for the highest peak of the mountain is Megas Soros. From there Zakynthos and a little of Lefkada can be seen and the nearby coasts of Peloponnese and Central Greece too. It has an altitude of 1,628 meters and is essentially the only high mountain on Kefalonia.
The horses of Ainos
Apart from the rare fir tree, what definitely caught our attention in this National Park are the horses of Ainos. These are a small group of some relatively small horses, called Equus caballus, that live freely in a semi-wild state in the wider surroundings of the monastery of Zoodochos Pigi, on the southeastern sides of Mount Ainos. It is believed that the horses of Mount Ainos are descended from those of the Pindos breed. The animals were abandoned in the wild after World War II. So they were kept on their own until today in these few herds.
They have a peculiarity in their style, small height, mane and tail dense, chest narrow and deep. The usual colors of the horses are dark brown, black, light brown and white.
