Imathia is a Greek territory with a multitude of production in various productive sectors. The regional agricultural production is well known for its Appellation of Origin fruits: apples, peaches and cherries of Naousa. The beginning of the viticulture in the region is lost in the past. The dry red wine is produced from grapes xinomavro, grown in the area classified as High Quality Wine Appellation of Origin "Naousa" (VQPRD). The wine has bright red color and rich body. Naousa has been also one of the most historical industrial areas of Northern Greece since the 19^th century, with most of the plants belonging mostly to the textile sector (cotton and woollen yarn and blankets).
The wine road of Naousa - part of the Macedonian Wineroads - comprises many famous wineries such as Kir-Yanni, Foundi, Dalamara, Chrisohoou. The family mansion of the first in Naousa is used today as a municipal wine museum.
The production along the Thermaikos Gulf western coasts is mostly focused to mussels and salt, whereas agriculture on the coastal plain is mainly dedicated to rice cultivation.
On the western coastal area of Thermaikos Gulf mussel production (Mytillus galloprovinciallis) represents one of the most important economic activities. The annual production rises up to 85% of the total Greek production.
The Kitros Saltworks are one of the vastest in Greece and most productive with an annual salt production of 40.000 tons. The wetland near the Salt-works is also recognized as on of the most important in Greece hosting during the winter hundreds of flamingos among many other aquatic species.

Naousa is one of the most important areas for viticulture in Greece, and this fame is due to the deep-red, bold wines made from Xinomavro, the noblest red grape variety of the northern Greek vineyards. According to the Greek mythology in the slopes of Mount Vermion, lived Semele, mother of the god Dionysus. In 1987, after the initiative of O.I.V (International Organisation of Wine) the town of Naousa was declared International Town of Vine and Wine.

The travel impressions of François Pouqueville and E.M.Cousinéry during the early 19^th century praised the quality of the wine of Naousa as “the best in Macedonia”, “considered to be better than those produced in the Ottoman Empire”, and that “it can be compared only with the wine of Burgundy”.

V.Q.P.R.D. Naousa wine is made only from “Xinomavro”, a red grape with a bold red-black color and high acidity, even when mature. The characteristic taste of this wine can be described by its name meaning “sour and black”. Today Xinomavro is the most cultivated variety in Greece.

The vineyards in elevated rows outline the hills and slopes around the city of Naousa. The ecosystem of Naousa offers to the vineyards a very favorable position on the south-eastern slopes of Mount Vermion at an altitude beginning at 150 meters and reaching 350meters. In this particular territory the grapes are protected from the cold northern winds  and benefit from warming afternoon sun, which help the fruit to reach the point of ideal maturation very easily.

In Naousa are some of the most illustrious Greek Estates: The Boutari winery in Stenimachos, the Dalamara Estate in Naousa, the Chrisohoou Estate and Domaine Foundi in Nea Strantza, Kir-Yanni in Yannakohori, Argatia in Rodohori, and Vaeni Naoussa in Episkopi. The wine producers of the area have made extremely tasteful reception rooms, where visitors may taste and learn all there is about the wines.

The Municipal Wine and Vineyard Museum is in Naousa, housed in the old mansion and winery of the Boutari Family.

Naousa Municipal Wine and Vineyard Museum: tel. 0030 23320 29800
Wine Producers Association of the Northern Greece Vineyard
154, Egnatia Str., HELEXPO, Pavillion 1, 1^st floor
P.O.Box 1529, 54006 Thessaloniki/ GREECE
Tel. :   0030 2310  281617, Fax. 0030 2310 281619
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: www.wineroads.gr

Sources:
- A travel along the Wine Roads of Northern Greece, Guide, ed. Wine roads of Northern Greece, Thessaloniki, 2008

Μουσείο Αμπέλου και Κρασιού Νάουσας τηλ. 0030 23320 29800
Ένωση Οινοπαραγωγών Αμπελώνα Βόρειας Ελλάδας
Οδός Εγνατία154, HELEXPO, Περίπτερο 1, 1^ος όροφος
Τ.Θ. 1529, 54006 Θεσσαλονίκη / ΕΛΛΑΣ
Tηλ. :   0030 2310 281617, Fax. 0030 2310 281619
E-mail: [email protected]
Ιστοσελίδα: www.wineroads.gr

The Loudias River is the shortest of the four rivers within the boarders of Axios – Loudias – Aliakmonas National Park. In the mid 19^th century Loudias was a river tributary to Axios river. Loudias took its contemporary shape in the 1930s after the reclamation works in the Thessaloniki plain. Loudias River forms no proper Delta in its estuary, southern of Axios Delta. The ecosystem along the riverbank is directly related to the ecosystem of Axios, and the estuary is declared as a Special Protected Area for the bird fauna, protected according the Ramsar Convention. The mussel cultivation in the territory is a very important activity for the local economy and (parallel to the rice-cultivation) the main economic resource of the population living in the coastal settlements of the western Thermaikos Gulf coasts, during the last 30 years. The fishermen and mussel producer’s wooden cabins constitute the characteristic local image of the area and a real tourist attraction.

Mussel farming in Greece was introduced in the late 70’s while modern cultivation techniques i.e. single-floating long-line systems were introduced in the 80’s.     Due to the quantity of nutritive elements brought by the rivers, the mussels grow quickly in size and the productivity is high, proving this activity extremely profitable. The annual production is estimated up to 30.000 tons of mussels, arriving at a rate of 80-85% of the total Greek production.

The mussel production is extended mainly over three areas: at the estuary of Axios River within the boarders of the municipal unit of Halastra, at the estuary of Loudias within the boarders of the municipal units of Kymina-Malgara, and at the western edge of Aliakmonas estuary, at the coasts of Pieria regional unit. The cultivated species belong to the marine mollusc   species of  Mytillus Galloprovinciallis (Mediterranean mussel), endemic species of Eastern Mediterranean, Adriatic Sea and Black Sea. The culture methods are the single-floating long-line system and the farms using poles.

Address: Axios-Loudias – Aliakmonas Management Authority
Halastra Thessaloniki, ΤΚ 57 300/ GREECE
Tel:00302310794811
Fax:00302310794368
E-mail: [email protected]
Website:http://www.axiosdelta.gr

Credits:
Lia Papadranga, responsible for press and public relations, Axios Delta Management Authority
Olga Deligianni, architect, member em. of  the Technical Chamber of Greece

Διεύθυνση: Φορέας Διαχείρισης Δέλτα Αξιού-Λουδία-Αλιάκμονα
Χαλάστρα Θεσσαλονίκη, Τ.Κ. 57 300/ ΕΛΛΑΣ
Tel:00302310794811
Fax:00302310794368
E-mail: [email protected]
Ιστοσελίδα :http://www.axiosdelta.gr

The Kitros salt works are evaluated to be among the vastest and most productive functioning salt works in Greece with an annual salt production of 40.000 tons and covering a surface of 3620 acres. The salt collection and production is extended between March and October. The wetland near the saltworks is also recognized as one of the most important in Greece, hosting during the winter hundreds of flamingos and other aquatic species, providing their food in the salt basins.

The Alyki Kitrous lagoon extents to 352 acres, with maximum depth 1.5 m and is almost cut off from the sea, as the sea water enters from a small channel width of 4 m, in which the flow of seawater is controlled by a small barrier. The use of the lagoon is the storage of seawater to be used in the salt production. The water level and the salinity of the water depend on the ebb and the tide, but also on the operation of pumping stations, rainfall and evaporation.

Between the lagoon and the sea a sand land strip with dunes is extended, very important for its flora and fauna, mostly for the Mediterranean turtle. In this area we distinguish three different habitats:

1. Free water surface covers approximately 159 acres and islets to an extent less than 1 acre (west side).
2. The salt -marshes, with an area of 254 acres, which are covered by water. Most of them are on the south side and used for the gradual concentration of seawater  and the rest is used for crystallising salt.
3. The area of salt marshes, where the dominant vegetation is halophytic, such as Arthrocnemum fructicosum, A. glaucum, Halocnemum strobilaceum, Salicornia europaea, Halimione portulacoides and Limonium spp.

The salt production is the only industrial activity within the area of the wetland.

The Kitros salt works area is ideal for visitors’ walks willing to admire the aquatic birds of the Thermaikos Gulf. Many visitors are coming to the salt works also for baths in the local mud, believed to be extremely therapeutic.

The site of the salt works is famous since the historic times due to the neighbor ancient port city of Pydna. Giovanni Maria Angiolello, a Venetian adventurer, merchant, and author, mentions in its memoirs the site of the salt works by the end of the 15^th century.

The national and international protection status of the area around the salt works is rated as high. 15.000 acres form a Wild Life Reserve and 278,000 acres are included to the Axios-Loudias - Aliakmon Delta. The whole area is regarded as important for migrant and hibernating aquatic bird species, such as: Phalacrocorax pygmeus, Branta ruficollis, Oxyura leucocephala, Haliaeetus albicilla, Aquila clanga.

The main threat is the building activity in the area of the dunes and salt marshes.

There are species (Larus melanocephalus, Mediterranean Gull) not nesting any more because of the existing nuisance.

Address: Kitros Pierias
600 64 Kitros/ Greece
Website: www.saltworks.gr
E-mail: [email protected]
tel: 0030 23510 71687, 0030 23510 71760 fax: 0030 23510 72162
(Production area)
tel.  0030 2310 794811
(for the wetland)

Credits:
Lia Papadranga, responsible for press and public relations, Axios Delta Management Authority
Olga Deligianni, architect, member em. of  the Technical Chamber of Greece

Διεύθυνση: Κίτρος Πιερίας
Τ.Κ. 600 64 ΚΙΤΡΟΣ/ ΕΛΛΑΣ
Ιστοσελίδα: www.saltworks.gr
E-mail: [email protected]
Τηλ: 0030 23510 71687, 0030 23510 71760 fax: 0030 23510 72162 ( για τον χώρο παραγωγής της Αλυκής)
Τηλ. 0030 2310 794811 (για τον υγρότοπο της Αλυκής)