Difference between revisions of "Elis prefecture"

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==Overview==
 
==Overview==
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The population of ancient Elis (from 1000 BC) was in the range of 5,000 to 10,000 reaching 10,000 or 20,000 by 1 BC. It surpassed the 100,000 mark around the first quarter of the 20th century and the 150,000 mark in the late-20th century.  [[Pyrgos]] became the largest city ( over the 10,000) in the mid-20th century, and above 20,000 in the late [[1980s]]. 
  
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The population in the northwest of the prefecture is growing while the population is declining in the southeast and east.
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The population of ancient Elis (from 1000-1 BC) was in the range of 5,000 to 10,000 and reached 10,000 or 20,000 by 1 BC. The population surpassed the 100,000 mark around the quarter of the 20th century and more than 150,000 in the late-20th century.  Pyrgos became the largest city having the population over the 10,000 mark in the mid-20th century, and abovr 20,000 in the late-1980s.  The population in the northwest is growing while the population is declining in the southeast and east.
 
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The area is rich in beaches, climate, and forests.
 
  
 
==Climate==
 
==Climate==
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The port of Kyllini in the northwest is the busiest port in Elis.  It ferries cars into the port and out into the islands of Zante and Corfu with 2 ferry lines.  Other ports or harbors are small in size and fits omly small or smaller boats.
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The port of [[Kyllini]] in the northwest is the busiest port in Elis.  It ferries cars to and fro the islands of [[Zante]] and [[Corfu]] with 2 ferry lines.  Other ports in the prefecture are small in size and can only accomodate smaller boats.
  
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Elis is located in the heart of the earthquake zone, and the faultline.  Every year, tens of minor earthquakes and aftershocks can be felt.   
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Elis is located in the heart of the earthquake zone and the faultline.  Every year dozens of minor earthquakes and aftershocks can be felt.   
  
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Here lies the ancient ruins of [[Elis]] (Ancient Greek Ηλίς  ''Elis'', Modern Greek Ηλίδα  ''Ilida''), [[Epitalium]] (Επιτάλιον, Επιτάλιο (modern Greek spelling ''Epitalion'') and [[Olympia, Greece|Olympia]], and once held the ancient Olympic games which started in [[776 BC]].  A museum is founded with statues that relate with the history of Olympia.  Another museum is in Elis, but the size is very small.
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Here lies the ancient ruins of [[Elis]] (Ancient Greek Ηλίς  ''Elis'', Modern Greek Ηλίδα  ''Ilida''), [[Epitalium]] (Επιτάλιον, Επιτάλιο (modern Greek spelling ''Epitalion'') and [[Olympia]], and once held the ancient Olympic games which started in [[776 BC]].  A museum is found with statues that relate with the history of Olympia.  Another smaller museum is in Elis.
  
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Elis has a military airport in Andravida located slightly north of Pyrgos, 3 km north of the center of Andravida.  There are no international or local airports in the area.  There are military bases in Elis, like the one in Kyllini.
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Elis has a military airport in [[Andravida]], located slightly north of Pyrgos, 3 km north of the center of Andravida.  There are no international or local airports in the area.  There are military bases in Elis, like the one in Kyllini.
  
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Monasteries are scattered around the region.  The nearest from Amalias is [[Agia Frangavilli]] about 5 km SE of Amalias and N or Pyrgos via GR-9.
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Monasteries are scattered throughout the region.  The nearest from Amalias is [[Agia Frangavilli]] about 5 km SE of Amalias and N or Pyrgos via GR-9.
  
 
==Agriculture==
 
==Agriculture==
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The primary agricultural products of the region are corn, tomatoes, potatoes, green peppers,  watermelons and melons.  
 
The primary agricultural products of the region are corn, tomatoes, potatoes, green peppers,  watermelons and melons.  
  
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There are 3 major operating tomato factories in Savalia, Gastouni, and north of Andravida. The most fertile land is a plain that covers the northern part of the prefecture.
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There are 3 major operating tomato factories in Savalia, [[Gastouni]], and north of Andravida. The most fertile land is a plain that covers the northern part of the prefecture.
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==Forestry==
 
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Before the mid-20th century, logging was rarely common to third-class residents.  They used it for heating, cooking, and some other resources.  Nowadays, logging is very rare in Elia.  The only place for logging is near residential and industrial expansion, mining, and highway networking expansion.  Most of the forest is consumed by forest fires.
 
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There are no sawmills and papermills in Elis and the Western Peloponnese, unlike Northern Europe.  The nearest sawmill is to the north and the nearest paper mill is probably in Athens.
 
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*2001: 192,340, density: 71.74/km²
 
*2001: 192,340, density: 71.74/km²
  
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==People==
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*[[Andreas Karkavitsas]], writer
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*[[Ioannis Paraskevopoulos]], banker, Prime Minister of Greece
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*[[Dimitrios Kiousopoulos]], jurist, Prime Minister of Greece
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*[[Stephanos Stephanopoulos]], jurist, Prime Minister of Greece
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*[[Spyros Skouras]], [[Greek-American]] film executive
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*[[Nikos Beloyiannis]], communist official
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*[[Miltiades Iatridis]], [[World War II]] hero
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*[[Mary Linda]], singer
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*[[Giorgos Karagounis]], football player
  
 
==Communication==
 
==Communication==
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Total highways are exactly 200 km, with 25 km being old national roads.  Almost 95% to 99% of the roads were surfaced in the 1950s.   
 
Total highways are exactly 200 km, with 25 km being old national roads.  Almost 95% to 99% of the roads were surfaced in the 1950s.   
  
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The principal [[highway]]s include:
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The principal highways include:
 
*[[E55]] ([[Greece Interstate 9|GR Highway 9]]).  Its length is 110 km (68 miles), while bypassing Pyrgos.  The highway runs through the entire western coast of the Peloponnese, with a few exceptions, Kyllini and Katakolon coasts.
 
*[[E55]] ([[Greece Interstate 9|GR Highway 9]]).  Its length is 110 km (68 miles), while bypassing Pyrgos.  The highway runs through the entire western coast of the Peloponnese, with a few exceptions, Kyllini and Katakolon coasts.
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*[[Greece Interstate 74|GR Highway 74]], the Pyrgos-Tripolis Road which last around 500 to 60 kilometers in Elia linking up to the small one-lane narrow tracherous bridge  Construction is under way for a by-pass and a 2-lane bridge will also be built over the riverbanks of Erymanthus.  This is the only  road connects outside Elia, being running from W to E parts of the Peloponnese.
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*[[Greece Interstate 74|GR Highway 74]], the Pyrgos-[[Tripolis]] Road which last around 500 to 60 kilometers in Elia linking up to the small one-lane narrow tracherous bridge  Construction is under way for a by-pass and a 2-lane bridge will also be built over the riverbanks of Erymanthus.  This is the only  road connects outside Elia, being running from W to E parts of the Peloponnese.
 
*[[Greece Interstate 76|GR Highway 76]], part of which is funded locally and not being GR Highway 76 though.  The Elia portion of Pyrgos-Andritsaina-Megalopolis road is 60 km long  This road runs almost entirely being the Peloponnesian highway running from NW (Kyllini) to SE ([[Monemvasia]]).
 
*[[Greece Interstate 76|GR Highway 76]], part of which is funded locally and not being GR Highway 76 though.  The Elia portion of Pyrgos-Andritsaina-Megalopolis road is 60 km long  This road runs almost entirely being the Peloponnesian highway running from NW (Kyllini) to SE ([[Monemvasia]]).
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*[[Greece Interstate 33|GR Highway 33]], about 30 km (20 miles) with curves for Patras-Tripolis Highway in Elia.
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*[[Greece Interstate 33|GR Highway 33]], about 30 km (20 miles) with curves for Patras-Tripolis Highway in Elia.
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And the Pyrgos to Kyllini (Kyllene) road is 12 km (7.5 miles) long. Today, it's only 10 km (6 miles when workers shortened by constructing a new section only 2 km in length). Cost: 30 to 75,000,000 drachmas ($100,000 to $250,000) range, including the abandoment of the train track system.
 
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Railway tracks enters through Elia. And the length is around 140 km.  155 km before 2001.  The region has about only two tracks left.  Three was the original number before 2001.  There are tens of train stations scattered around Elia.  Tens of trains are used every day.  Pyrgos Train station has the most passengers.  Its average speed limit is 80 km/h.
 
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There are transformer lines that powers hydro to its residents from mainly Megalopolis power station.  Around 300 to 500 km of minor power lines are in the Area powering electricity to the people, including one which light up for the road.  There are no power stations that produce electricity in the area.  Before the 1940s, there were no transformer lines existed.  Another power line around 10 km in length were bringing hydro to residents of the island of Zante. Construction began around 2001-2002.  The line opened somewhere in 2002.
 
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Its first lamp post was in the mid-20th century, and the villages in the mid to late 1980s.  Today, they are one of the areas that has the most lighting in the Peloponnese, placed 3rd or 4th on the peninsula. Around 4 to 5 km of GR9 (Patras-Pyrgos) are lighted (30 to 40 foot posts or 10 to 15 m posts) .
 
  
 
==Telecommunications==
 
==Telecommunications==
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! Municipality !! YPES code !! Seat <!--!! Postal code !! Area code -->
 
! Municipality !! YPES code !! Seat <!--!! Postal code !! Area code -->
 
|-
 
|-
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|[[Alifeira]]||1701||[[Kallithea]]
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|[[Alifeira]]||1701||[[Kallithea (Elis)|Kallithea]]
 
|-
 
|-
 
|Amaliada||1702||[[Amaliada]]
 
|Amaliada||1702||[[Amaliada]]
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|Andritsaina||1704|| [[Andritsaina]]
 
|Andritsaina||1704|| [[Andritsaina]]
 
|-
 
|-
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|Archaia Olympia||1705||[[Olympia, Greece|Olympia]]
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|Archaia Olympia||1705||[[Olympia]]
 
|-
 
|-
 
|[[Figaleia]] ||1720|| [[Nea Figaleia]]
 
|[[Figaleia]] ||1720|| [[Nea Figaleia]]
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|[[Pineia]] || 1716||[[Efyra]]
 
|[[Pineia]] || 1716||[[Efyra]]
 
|-
 
|-
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|'''Pyrgos'''||1717|| [[Pyrgos (Ilia)|Pyrgos]]
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|'''Pyrgos'''||1717|| [[Pyrgos]]
 
|-
 
|-
 
|[[Skillounta]]||1718||[[Krestena]]
 
|[[Skillounta]]||1718||[[Krestena]]
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|[[Volakas]]||1708||[[Epitalio]]
 
|[[Volakas]]||1708||[[Epitalio]]
 
|-
 
|-
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|[[Vouprasia]]||1707||[[Varda, Greece|Varda]]
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|[[Vouprasia]]||1707||[[Varda]]
 
|-
 
|-
 
|Zacharo||1710||[[Zacharo]]
 
|Zacharo||1710||[[Zacharo]]
 
|}
 
|}
  
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Elis has two districts:  
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Elis has two provinces:  
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*[[Elis district]] contains Hollow or Lowland Elis and the northern part of Pisatis has the most people, and not in size.  The seat is [[Pyrgos]].  
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*[[Elis province]] contains Lowland Elis and the northern part of Pisatis. Though smaller, it has the most people.  The seat is [[Pyrgos]].  
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*[[Olympia district]] containing most of Pisatis or Pisa and Triphylia, is the second in population. Its seat for the entire district is [[Andritsaina]], in the mountains, Krestena and Zacharo are the largest towns in the district.
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*[[Olympia province]] containing most of Pisatis or Pisa and Triphylia. Its seat is [[Andritsaina]], Krestena and Zacharo are the largest towns in the district.
  
 
See also:  
 
See also:  
 
*[[List of settlements in the Elis prefecture]]
 
*[[List of settlements in the Elis prefecture]]
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*[[List of municipalities in the Elis Prefecture]]
 
  
 
==External links==
 
==External links==

Latest revision as of 12:46, May 16, 2007

Elis (Modern Greek: Ηλεία - Ileía) is a prefecture in the Western Peloponnesus and in Western portion of Greece. The prefecture is part of the periphery of West Greece. It covers the area of ancient Elis, and was formerly a department. Its capital is Pyrgos.

Overview

The population of ancient Elis (from 1000 BC) was in the range of 5,000 to 10,000 reaching 10,000 or 20,000 by 1 BC. It surpassed the 100,000 mark around the first quarter of the 20th century and the 150,000 mark in the late-20th century. Pyrgos became the largest city ( over the 10,000) in the mid-20th century, and above 20,000 in the late 1980s.

The population in the northwest of the prefecture is growing while the population is declining in the southeast and east.

Climate

In spring, temperatures in May can climb to around 20 to 25 °C. Temperatures in the summer can soar over 30 °C (86 °F).

Geography

The northernmost point is 38.1° or 38° 06′ N, the westernmost is around 22.2° E or 22° 12′ E, the southernmost is 37.3° N or 37° 18′ N, and the easternmost is 21.9° E or 21° 54′ E. The length from north to south (Directly is 100 km (60 miles), and from east-to-west is around 55 km (35 miles). Its coast line includes 120 km of sandy beaches.

The longest river is the Alpheus River (Greek: Πόταμος Αλφειόυ Alfeios). Other rivers are Erymanthus (Ερύμανθος Erymanthos) by the boundary of Elia-Arcadia, Peneus (Πόταμος Πηνειός Pineios) of the west runs down into the southern part of Vartholomio. The Neda (Νέδα) river is the boundary of Messenia and Elis.

Forests are found in the east. Pine trees are mostly founded in places from Neda River up to Peneus River. About half of the area are covered with forest. There are forest preserves in Pholoe (Φολόη Foloi, Pholoi, modern Greek or Pholoe, ancient and modern Greek.), and the mountain ranges of Eastern Elis. Another forests in the northern part is the Strofylia forests which has pine trees.

Tree-planting is very rare. The rate of forestation is slightly decreasing, mainly by fires and road networks. But larger forests, not linked by any roads, are protected.


The port of Kyllini in the northwest is the busiest port in Elis. It ferries cars to and fro the islands of Zante and Corfu with 2 ferry lines. Other ports in the prefecture are small in size and can only accomodate smaller boats.

Elis is located in the heart of the earthquake zone and the faultline. Every year dozens of minor earthquakes and aftershocks can be felt.

Here lies the ancient ruins of Elis (Ancient Greek Ηλίς Elis, Modern Greek Ηλίδα Ilida), Epitalium (Επιτάλιον, Επιτάλιο (modern Greek spelling Epitalion) and Olympia, and once held the ancient Olympic games which started in 776 BC. A museum is found with statues that relate with the history of Olympia. Another smaller museum is in Elis.

Elis has a military airport in Andravida, located slightly north of Pyrgos, 3 km north of the center of Andravida. There are no international or local airports in the area. There are military bases in Elis, like the one in Kyllini.

Monasteries are scattered throughout the region. The nearest from Amalias is Agia Frangavilli about 5 km SE of Amalias and N or Pyrgos via GR-9.

Agriculture

The primary agricultural products of the region are corn, tomatoes, potatoes, green peppers, watermelons and melons.

There are 3 major operating tomato factories in Savalia, Gastouni, and north of Andravida. The most fertile land is a plain that covers the northern part of the prefecture.


Tourism

Tourism flourishes in the summer season in hotels in the Kyllini area and its thermal springs next to the Ionian Sea.

Another tourist attraction is Olympia, along with its ancient ruins.

Population

  • 1991: 174,021, density: 65 inh./km²
  • 2001: 192,340, density: 71.74/km²

People

Communication

Total highways are exactly 200 km, with 25 km being old national roads. Almost 95% to 99% of the roads were surfaced in the 1950s.

The principal highways include:

  • E55 (GR Highway 9). Its length is 110 km (68 miles), while bypassing Pyrgos. The highway runs through the entire western coast of the Peloponnese, with a few exceptions, Kyllini and Katakolon coasts.
  • GR Highway 74, the Pyrgos-Tripolis Road which last around 500 to 60 kilometers in Elia linking up to the small one-lane narrow tracherous bridge Construction is under way for a by-pass and a 2-lane bridge will also be built over the riverbanks of Erymanthus. This is the only road connects outside Elia, being running from W to E parts of the Peloponnese.
  • GR Highway 76, part of which is funded locally and not being GR Highway 76 though. The Elia portion of Pyrgos-Andritsaina-Megalopolis road is 60 km long This road runs almost entirely being the Peloponnesian highway running from NW (Kyllini) to SE (Monemvasia).
  • GR Highway 33, about 30 km (20 miles) with curves for Patras-Tripolis Highway in Elia.

Telecommunications

  • ORT (Olympiaki Radiophonio Teleorassi meaning the Olympic Broadcasting Television) serves the whole of Elia in local programming to the area. ORT is also a Polis affiliate along with Music All Day.

There are number of radio stations like RSA, Radio Station of Amalias from Amalias, Eleftheri Radiofonas Krestenas from Krestena, and so on.

Municipalities

Municipality YPES code Seat
Alifeira 1701 Kallithea
Amaliada 1702 Amaliada
Andravida 1703 Andravida
Andritsaina 1704 Andritsaina
Archaia Olympia 1705 Olympia
Figaleia 1720 Nea Figaleia
Foloi 1721 Lalas
Gastouni 1709 Gastouni
Iardanos 1711 Vounargo
Kastro-Kyllini 1712 Kyllini
Lampeia 1713 Lampeia
Lasion 1714 Panopoulo
Lechaina 1715 Lechaina
Oleni 1722 Karatoulas
Pineia 1716 Efyra
Pyrgos 1717 Pyrgos
Skillounta 1718 Krestena
Tragano 1719 Tragano
Vartholomio 1706 Vartholomio
Volakas 1708 Epitalio
Vouprasia 1707 Varda
Zacharo 1710 Zacharo

Elis has two provinces:

  • Elis province contains Lowland Elis and the northern part of Pisatis. Though smaller, it has the most people. The seat is Pyrgos.
  • Olympia province containing most of Pisatis or Pisa and Triphylia. Its seat is Andritsaina, Krestena and Zacharo are the largest towns in the district.

See also:

External links

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