Editing Epirus (section)

==Geography and ecology==
[[File:Smolikas IMG 0118.jpg|right|thumb|[[Smolikas|Mount Smolikas]] (2637m/8652f), the highest point in Epirus]]
[[File:Zagori Vikos gorge Oxia towards Vikos.jpg|right|thumb|[[Vikos Gorge]] in [[Vikos–Aoös National Park]]]]

Epirus is a predominantly rugged and mountainous region. It is largely made up of the [[Pindus Mountains]], a series of parallel [[limestone]] ridges that are a continuation of the [[Dinaric Alps]].<ref name="Britannica">{{cite encyclopedia|url=https://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/190156/Epirus|title=Epirus|encyclopedia=Encyclopædia Britannica|publisher=Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.|access-date=16 November 2013}}</ref><ref>{{harvnb|Bahr|Johnston|Bloomfield|1997|p=389}}.</ref> The Pindus mountains form the spine of mainland Greece and separate Epirus from Macedonia and Thessaly to the east. The ridges of the Pindus are parallel to the sea and generally so steep that the valleys between them are mostly suitable for pasture rather than large-scale agriculture.<ref name=Britannica/> Altitude increases as one moves east, away from the coast, reaching a maximum of 2,637&nbsp;m at [[Smolikas|Mount Smolikas]], the highest point in Epirus. Other important ranges include [[Tymfi]] (2,496&nbsp;m at Mount Gamila), [[Lygkos]] (2,249&nbsp;m), to the west and east of Smolikas respectively, [[Gramos]] (2,523&nbsp;m) in the northeast, Tzoumerka (2,356&nbsp;m) in the southeast, Tomaros (1,976&nbsp;m) in the southwest, [[Mitsikeli]] near [[Ioannina]] (1,810&nbsp;m), [[Mourgana]] (1,806&nbsp;m), and [[Nemercke|Nemercke/Aeoropos]] (2,485&nbsp;m) on the border between Greece and Albania, and the [[Ceraunian Mountains]] (2,000&nbsp;m) near [[Himara]] in Albania. Most of Epirus lies on the windward side of the Pindus, and the prevailing winds from the Ionian Sea make the region the rainiest in mainland Greece.<ref name=Britannica/>

Significant lowlands are to be found only near the coast, in the southwest near [[Arta, Greece|Arta]] and [[Preveza]], in the Acheron plain between [[Paramythia]] and [[Fanari, Preveza|Fanari]], between [[Igoumenitsa]] and [[Sagiada]], and also near [[Saranda]]. The [[Zagori]] area is a scenic upland plateau surrounded by mountain on all sides.

The main river flowing through Epirus is the [[Vjosë]], which flows in a northwesterly direction from the Pindus mountains in Greece to its mouth north of the [[Bay of Vlorë]] in Albania. Other important rivers include the [[Acheron|Acheron river]], famous for its religious significance in ancient Greece and site of the [[Necromanteion]], the [[Arachthos river]], crossed by the historic [[Bridge of Arta]], the [[Louros (river)|Louros]], the [[Thyamis]] or Kalamas, and the Voidomatis, a tributary of the Vjosë flowing through the [[Vikos Gorge]]. The Vikos Gorge, one of the deepest in the world, forms the centerpiece of the [[Vikos–Aoös National Park]], known for its scenic beauty. The only significant lake in Epirus is [[Lake Pamvotis]], on whose shores lies the city of [[Ioannina]], the region's largest and traditionally most important city.

The climate of Epirus is [[Mediterranean climate|Mediterranean]] along the coast and [[Alpine climate|Alpine]] in the interior. Epirus is heavily forested, mainly by coniferous species. The fauna in Epirus is especially rich and features species such as [[bear]]s, [[wolf|wolves]], [[fox]]es, [[deer]], and [[lynx]]es.