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Slate, marble and granite, as well as other important
rock formations make up the geological landscape of Tinos. To the west,
the island is rocky, barren and has many outcrops of marble (Oxo Meri).
To the east, the landscape is more gentle, alternating between slate and
granite. The soil is more fertile with a number of water sources. It is
the Messa Meri that takes up two thirds of the island. Here, Mount Tsiknias
and the rocky summit, Xombourgo, dominate the region.
Small plateaux and valleys, ravines with lush vegetation and unusual weathered
granite rocks are characteristic of the area.
The Mesa Meri area is divided by the difference in altitude into the Upper
and Lower Meri. The only extensive fields together with main torrent course,
are to be found in the fertile basin around Komi (Livadi) in Lower Meri.
The only good natural harbour is at Panormos in the northwest.
Rare and protected species of flora and fauna
SCIENTIFIC NAMES COMMON
AND LOCAL NAMES
Monachus Monachus Monk Seal
Aquila chrysaetos Golden Eagle
Falco tinninculus Vrachokirkinezo
Falco peregrinus Petritis
Falco eleonarae Black Petritis
Corvus monebula Karyia
Larus Auduinii Audouin’s Gull
Cyrtopodion kotschyi Kirtodachtilos, Samanidi
Erys jaculus Sand Boa, Tiflitis
Lacerta trilineata Tranosarra, Kalosavrados
Natrix natrix Water Snake, Ochendra
Natrix tessellata Limnofido
Podarcis erhardi Silivouti
Vipera ammodytes Viper, Adder
Rana balcanica Frog
Cernuella syrensis Snail
Deroceras oertzeni
Elaphocera erberi
Helicona sphaeriostoma Snail
Idyla bicrista
Ligidium cycladicum Snail
Mastus etuberculatus
Metafructicola andria Snail
Monacha rothi Snail
Poecilimon aegaeus
Vitrea clissini
Bulgarica denticulata
Rumex acetosa Xinolapatho
Dianthus sp. Wild Carnation / Agriogarifallo
SCIENTIFIC NAMES COMMON AND LOCAL NAMES
Delphinium ajacis Kapoutsinos
Reseda lutea Vromohorto
Ononis antiquorum Alonida
Ferula communis
Opoppanax hispidus Kalfo
Centaurium erythraea
Bellardia trixago Agriolikos-Wolf
Verbascum thapsus Flomos
Acanthus spinosus Aporanus or apouranas
Inula viscosa Akonisia
Asparagus acutifolius Sfarangi
Crocus laevigatus Wild Crocus / Agrios krokos
Briza Maxima Skoularikakia-Vriza
Area: 194.3 sq.km
Perimeter of coastline: 114 kms
Highest Peaks: Tsiknias (726m)
Pateles (Polemou Kambos-649m)
Kechrovouni (604m)
Xombourgo (558m)
Average Annual Rainfall:500 mm.
Population: 8,547 (2001)