Covered by dense forests of pines and firs, Mount Cithaeron stretches to the northwest of Athens, along the border between Boeotia and the Megarid, and belongs to the mountain range connecting Parnes to Mount Parnassus. It begins to the west of Livadostros bay, runs along the coast of the Alkyonides gulf and,united with Mount Pastra, reaches the Skourtaplain, in the Dervenochoria region. Pastra, characterised by steep slopes and deep valleys, is to be found between Erythres and the town of Skourta. The mountainous massifs of Cithaeron and Pastra are separated by the Kaza passage, which is crossed by the old national road from Athens to Thebes. To the east of the road, just above Kaza, stand the impressive ruins of the Eleutheres fortress, also known as Gyftokastro.