Stefania Christianou Source: ILSP © ILSP

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The geological relief is dominated by the massif of Pangaion Mountain, the gold bearing mountain of antiquity, in the western region, Symvolo Mountain in the northwestern part, parallel to Mt Pangaion, where the town of Kavala is located, Mt Ypsarion in Thassos and the Lekani Mountains in southeast. The terrain of the prefecture is mountainous at a percentage of 55%, semi-mountainous at 24% and flat at 21%. The plains of the prefecture are formed among the mountains. The most fertile and larger in size is the Chrysoupolis plain in the Nestos Delta. The most important water resource is the Nestos River, which borders the prefecture of Xanthi as a natural boundary from the straits of Nestos down to the Delta, and irrigates the Chrysoupolis plain.
The coastline of the prefecture, extending between the estuaries of Strymon and Nestos Rivers, is low and smooth in the west part but as it turns northwards, to the foothills of Mt Symvolo, it is elevated and steep until it reaches Vrasidas Cape, the west end of Kavala Bay. Then, the bays of Eleftheres, Paleos, Toska, Mpatis and Kalamitsa are formed up to the port of Kavala.
The climate of the prefecture is mild Mediterranean on the coastal zone, with rainfall precipitation 400-600 millimetres, and continental towards the north with cold winters, very warm summers and twice as much rainfall.
Jackals, otters, wild cats, foxes, wolves, wild horses, reptiles and birds, such as sea eagles, herons and flamingos live in the area of Nestos and Pangaion. The Pangaion Mountain attracts many visitors with its nature, comprising rare flowers and tall plane and beech trees, and the magnificent views over the North Aegean and the inland.