Quaternary glacial features on the Tzumerka Massif (Pindos chain, Greece) Preliminary data

Many glacial traces as cirques and moraine deposits have been found and studied on the Athamanion Massif, Pindos chain (Hellas). The Athamanion Massif, is situated at a latitude between 39°22’N - 39°35’N and a longitude of 21°05’E – 21°15’E, includes some of the highest peaks of Hellas like, from North to South, Kakarditsa (2,429m), Chila Exida (2,254m), Katafidi (2,098m), Strogoula (2,112m), Gerakovouni (2,364m), Sxismeno Lithari (2,306m), Megalolivado (2,199m) and Sklava (2,088m). All this mountains show to have been interested affected by also impressive glacial features. The studies curried out allow determining, probably, that great glacial tongues were located in particular, along the eastern slopes from Tsouma Plastari to Kakarditsa, as well as in the valleys inside the Massif, like that of the Melissourghitikos and of the Xistras rivers.
   An impressive difference in moraines preservation has been observed between the eastern general slope of the Massif and the western one. It is due to the fragile and strongly eroded geological bodies outcropping along the last.
   Glacial circus, laterals and frontals moraines deposits have been recognised and mapped in the study area. Here and there also well preserved, seems to be referable to the last great glacial expansion, so called Wurm of alpine glacial, and to three periods of stasis during and after the glacial retreat. In particular the last and more recent moraine seems to be referable to the late glacial, but more data must be searched.
   The ELA of the maximum glacial expansion has been calculated by mean of the “average elevation” method, results lowered at about 1600m of elevation.