Tzena

Tzena is a mountain located on the border of Greece and North Macedonia. It is connected in the west with Vora (with the peak of Pinovo) and in the southeast with Paiko. Its peak has an altitude of 2,182 metres. The Greek part of the mountain is located in the prefecture of Pella. On the North Macedonian side there is an abandoned ski resort.

Tzena is one of the most beautiful but also one of the least walked and relatively unknown mountains of Northern Greece. On the ridge of the mountain is the border line between Greece and North Macedonia, the Greek territory owns about 1/3 of its area. The highest peak of Tzena is Megali Tzena or otherwise known as Portes with an altitude of 2,182 metres (2,182 ft), right on the border line. Many streams descend from the mountain with the most important ones of Tzena, the Katharo, Asvestaria and Hayrona.

The mountain has a relatively mild terrain which includes many gorges, streams, waterfalls, large waterfalls, dense forests and a large alpine zone. Famous is the gorge of Mikri Tzenas or the gorge of South, through which one of the most beautiful mountain paths of our country passes.

In Tzena there is one of the most beautiful and dense beech forests of Northern Greece. The flora of the mountain consists of more than 1,200 species, of which the rarest are found in the highest parts of the mountain. It belongs to the Axios zone and more than 50% of the area is forest land, pasture now occupies a small percentage. The main land use is logging (forest management) and mountain livestock farming which is now almost non-existent. Due to its special location on the northern border and its military importance, the area is maintained at a satisfactory level and all activities continue as normal. In recent years new roads have been opened, resulting in an intensification of logging and illegal logging in accordance with the forestry management (forestry department).

The development of roads in the mountains increases the pressure on poaching and wipes out the small population of protected goats (wild goats). Large protected birds of prey (especially vultures) also suffer from illegal hunting, poisoning and lack of food.

Finally, Mount Tzena is a Natura 2000 protected area with code GR 1240002, which has an area of 125,769 acres and belongs to the area of responsibility of the Management Entity of Protected Areas “Vora-Paikou-Vermio”, as defined by the KYA AAA/2017