THE WATER THAT DRILL THE STONE
Areas like Loussoi, which are dominated by limestone, are characterized by impressive karstic landforms, such as sinkholes. Loussoi and the surrounding area, except from sinkholes, are related to archaeological data as in this place there the Ancient Lousoi were found a city of Arcadian Azania where the sanctuary of Artemis was built in honor of the Goddess. Ruins of the ancient city of Lousoi and the sanctuary of Artemis as well as archaeological finds have been discovered in the area.
Geodiversity
In the area of Loussoi, limestone dominates. Limestones are carbonate rocks that are easily dissolved by the action of water. Surface water, enriched in carbon dioxide (CO2) (from the atmosphere and the ground) reacts with the carbonates of the limestone, dissolves parts of it and widens pre-existing cracks creating cavities (openings) in the limestone rocks. The process is called karstification and leads to the formation of various underground and surface landforms called karsts.
The sinkhole of Loussoi is an important karstic landform in the area. A sinkhole is a landform in the form of a conduit, which ends to an opening at the ground, or at the bottom of a body of water through which water flows. The Loussoi polje, which floods during the winter months and forming a lake, is drained through this sinkhole.
Biodiversity
The Lοussoι polje which has its fertile clay soil was traditionally used for cultivation of cereal crops, while its slopes are dominated by maquis vegetation with the Kermes oak Quercus coccifera. At the north-east of the polje, Kefallinian fir (Abies cephalonica) forests dominate, while at the south of the valley, deciduous forests with Quercus frainetto oaks are found. The Geosite is located near the Natura 2000 Protected Areas “AESTHETIC FOREST OF KALAVRYTON” (GR2320004), “CAVE OF KASTRION” (GR2320009) and “CHELMOS MOUNT (AROANIA) – VOURAIKOS GORGE AND KALAVRYTA AREA” (GR2320013. The avifauna of the area includes birds, such as the Golden Eagle (Aquila chrysaetos), and the Bufos (Bubo bubo).
