Northwest of Thessaloniki, between the large rivers, south-east of Imathias Region, East of Kozani Region and NorthEast of Larissa Region, there is the Region of Pieria in, about, the same district with the Pieria of Greek Mythology (a part of the ancient Pieria belongs today to Imathias Region in terms of administration).
The Region of Pieria, bordering to the East with the sea of Thermaikos Bay, comprises a part of Central Macedonia, which is consisted of the regions of: Thessaloniki, Chalkidiki, Kilkis, Pella and Pieria. It occupies a surface of 1548 m2, its population rising to more that one hundred thousand inhabitants.
The city of Katerini is the capital of the region, inhabited by approx. 50000 inhabitants, the main towns and villages being: Litochoro, Aeginio, Colindros, Corynos, Leptokarya, Caritsa, Kitros, Retini, Vrondou, Platamonas, Svoronos, Lophos, Nea Ephessus, Peristasi, Kontariotissa, Kallithea, Makrygialos, Sphendame, Agios Spyridon, Dion, Kato Milia, Scotina etc.
On the whole, Pieria Region comprises only one prefecture (Pieria Prefecture), 4 municipalities (Katerini, Litochoro, Aeginio and Colyndros) as well as 51 communities with 82 settlements on the whole.
Morphologically, Pieria Region appears to be mountainous (South and South-west) and low-lying to the region bordering with the sea of Thermaikos Bay (East). South, the Mount Olympus, which is the highest mountain in Greece and whose summits "Mytikas" (or Pantheon) and "Scolio" are as high as 2917m and 2911m respectively, rises in the distance.
Exactly opposite, there is the summit "Titaros", the beginning of the multisummited Pieria Mountains ridge, comprising summits rising to the heights of more that 2000m of altitude. The highest summits of the Pieria mountains, the summit "Phlambouro" is as high as 2199m and served as a shelter of the fugitive Greek rebels during the revolution of 1821. The name "Phlambouro" (revolutionary flag) is, in all likelihood, attributed to this fact. The "passage" of Petra is shaped between the Olympus and the Pieria Mountains, an area of great strategic importance as, though this passage (or the Tembi Valley), the communication between Macedonia and Thessaly was carried out.
Southeast of the Olympus, there exists another mountainous formation of the same mountain, the "Lower Olympus", its highest summit rising to 1578m. This mountain comprises the one side of the Tempi Valley, while, opposite, the Thessalic Mount Ossa (Kissavos) rises.
The seaside low-lying zone of Pieria, broadened in depth towards the disrtict of Katerini, comprises a continuation of the plain of Thessaloniki. As geological researches and studies have borne out, a large part of the today camp of Katerini -in the area of the River Aliakmon in particular- was once covered by sea stretching up to the today city of Veria (6th century BC). However, alluviums washed away by the rivers pouring out into the Bay of Thermaikos, have formed an alluvial Delta formed in the course of centuries, which resulted in the formation of the today fertile Valley of Pieria. Alluviums accumulated by rivers have also been ascertained along the rest of Pieria's shores in particular, in its southern section opposite Dion and New Ephessos as a result of the course of the River "Mavroneri" (Black Water) as well as other streams flowing off down from the Olympus.
The main rivers of Pieria Region are: the Aliakmon (in the northern section of the region); the Megalos Lakkos (Deep Pit); the Toponitsa; the Gerakari; the Tsiamali; the Pelekas (in Katerini, identified to the ancient River Leuko); the Mavroneri (identified with the ancient River Aeson); the Elikon (or Vaphyras, in Dion); the Enipeas (in Litochoro); the Zliana (at the village Skotina, identified to the ancient River "Sys" (Warthhog) etc.
The shores of Pieria are sandy, forming one and single significant cape, the Cape Acherada in the northern section of the shore, opposite the small town of Kitros. From this point on and up to the southern end of the region, the shores are smooth, formed in the shape of an open bow with many fully linear segments, yet, comprising a shore of considerable width.
The climate of Pieria is, generally, very mild and temperate in the seaward along the coasts and the mountainous bulks of both Olympus and the Pierian mountains, which protect the plain from the northwesterly winds, being arrayed along the western borders, contribute to this to a large extent. Even more, during the summer months, attacks of torrid weather are rather scarce owing to sea breezes frequently prevailing in the district. Nevertheless, the more we advance towards the interior of the region and its mountainous sections in the wintertime, the severer the climate grows, bearing the characteristics of the northern type.
December -followed suit by November- is the most humid month, July being the driest one.
In the mountainous bulks of the Olympus and the Pieria mountains, the annual precipitation level exceeds the 1200-1500mm, the months: December, November and January, in turn, being the rainiest ones. Snowfalls set in in the high mountains in late September, while January and February are the snowiest months, followed by December and March.
The mild sea-oriented climate of Pieria's Region as well as the dry one of its semi-mountainous habitation settlements, which adds to the area becoming an ideal holiday resort for both summer and winter. Many of its parts, moreover, namely Litochoro and the Pierian Mountains' villages, cater for a harmonious combination of "mountain-sea".
Agriculture oriented activities prevail in the economic sector such as: tobacco, beet, vineyard, trees, fruit, vegetable and cabbage cultivation.
In the mountainous and semi-mountainous areas, dairy (mainly milk and cheese) and meat produce cultivation prevail. The region also experiences a considerable development in the timber production and processing sector as well as in the transforming sector of industry, especially, in the vicinity of Katerini.
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