The precinct and population of the Prefecture of Trikala are the second and third largest respectively among the four Prefectures of Thessaly. The Prefecture lies on the north-west part of Thessaly. It borders the Prefectures of Grevena (north), Larissa (east), Karditsa (south) Arta and Ioannina (west). The Prefecture of Trikala covers a total area of 3,367 sq Km of which 72% is mountainous country, 11% semi-mountainous and 17% plains. The population of the Prefecture of Trikala was 139,548 people in 2001. The Prefecture of Trikala is divided in 23 Municipalities and 3 Communities. The capital city and the biggest city of the Prefecture is Trikala, with a population of 51,672 people (2001 census). Trikala is a business, industrial, administrative and religious center. The second largest city in population is Kalambaka.

The Prefecture of Trikala is the most mountainous area of Thessaly and is surrounded by mountains on three sides. In the east, Titanos mountain (693m) and the mountains of Zarko separate the Prefecture from Larissa. Antichasia are to the north with Oksia (1.416m) and Meterizia (1.381m) being the highest tops. In the north, on the borders to the Prefecture of Grevena are Chasia (Kratsovo 1.540m and Orthovouni 1.106m being the highest tops here). In the west, the mountains of south Pindos cover a great part of the Prefecture. Specifically, on the borders to the Prefecture of Ioannina, up the tops of Aspra Litharia (1.823m) and Katara (1.705m) rise. (Thessaly is connected to Epirus, through Katara). Further to the south, there rise the mountains Lakmos (Peristeri 2.295m), Tzoumerka (2.429m) and in the west in Prefecture's land, the tops Kedros (1.796m), Skliva (2.007m), Kourouna (1.988m), Chatzi (2.038m), Triggia (2.204m), Neraida (2.067m), Avgo (2.148m), Loupata (2.066m), Karavoula (1.862m) and Koziakas (1.901m).

The main rivers of the Prefecture of Trikala are either tributaries of Pinios or Salambria (Malakasiotikos, Mourganis, Litheos, Paleochoritis, Agiamoniotis, Neochoritikos, Portaikos) or tributaries of Acheloos or Aspropotamos (Kamniaitikos, Vathyrema). It should be pointed out that these rivers rise basically in the same location, the north-west part of the Prefecture (where springs of Aoos and Arahthos are also located).

Climate. The climate is continental, bitterly cold in winter and boiling hot in summer. The average annual temperature reaches 16o-17oC on the plains but falls on the mountains.

Financial life. The finance of the area depends mainly on agriculture. Cattle-breeding and the forests are of great importance to the income of the locals.

Despite the important changes that have occurred in the population's employment -mainly in the last decade - the Prefecture of Trikala remains largely agricultural.