Difference between revisions of "Elis prefecture"
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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. | 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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==Information and Features== | ==Information and Features== | ||
Revision as of 20:14, September 20, 2005
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 1000-1 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.
The area is rich in beaches, climate, and forests.
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 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.
Two thermal springs offers beautiful blue-colored sea with the best beaches around. Thermal springs of Kyllini, Kaiafa are the major springs there.
There are mountains filled with spring water, but there are no spring water factories in Elia, such as Avra (Temene) (Άυρα) from Temene and Loutraki (spring water) from Loutraki, outside Elis. Loutraki or Avra is the top-selling spring water in the entire region.
Elis is located in the heart of the earthquake zone, and the faultline. Every year, tens 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 founded with statues that relate with the history of Olympia. Another museum is in Elis, but the size is very small.
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 around 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 source of agriculture is corn, tomatoes, potatoes, green peppers, livestock, watermelon, melon and some vegetables. There are 3 major operating tomato factories in Savalia, Gastouni, and north of Andravida. The most fertile land is a plain that covers northern section of the region. The production is one of being #1 in the Peloponnese and the whole of Western Greece. There are almost the same amount of fertile land as in Achaea, being the #1 in amount of fertile and arable land in the peninsula.
Textiles used to be dominant in business from ancient times to medieval times. It had been replaced by agriculturalism in times of the Ottoman Empire and a couple of plagues. In the 1950s, agriculture was the most dominant business and the most number of jobs in Elis numbered at 100% with the exception of parts of Amaliada and Pyrgos, where urbanization covered more than half and a quarter in Amalias. In the late-1970s, the majority of jobs in Lechaina, Myrsini and Varda is primarily urban. Business in the agricultural sector has been declining to one-third to this day.
The most popular pasta in western Greece is shaped like stars and dots. It is common in the western half. Other pasta delicacies are also common and were affordable until the mid-20th century. Poverty was very common when the economy is poor.
Forestry
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.
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.
Information and Features
Lechaina international festival had taken place in mid-summer of 2002. It hosted concerts, not as big as others, and shows.
There are no race tracks, or a main airport. not even a speedway. Soccer fields, track and field, and basketball are common. Also, there are hospitals in the area. There are a number of health centers founded from north to south.
Total number of buildings number around 50,000 and 60,000.
Peneus Dam also has a watch tower and a water control station which guards the water flow of that reservoir. It even has a road over which connects Psari, Ag. Ilia, Daphni, and Gastouni. It even features the only single-span suspension bridge in Elis which is 300 meters long. This bridge runs over the flowing waters from the dam when is above the limit. Kentro is in the middle between the dam, the river and the channel.
There are three tomato plants, they include Kyknos in Savalia, Asteris north of Andravida, and Pelargos southeast of Gastouni.
There are about 10s of post office scattered in the area.
100s of water towers are scattered to half of the villages carrying 2,000,000 litres of water for most of the region.
The supermarkets and warehouse stores that are available are Lidl and Veropoulos (part of the Spar, Eurospar chain) in Pyrgos. This location opened in the late 20th century, being the first supermarket in Pyrgos and Elia, not as a whole of the Western Peloponnese. The main regional chain of supermarket is Supermarket Ilida. Department stores and hypermarkets that are not available is Carrefour, Praktiker, Champion Mariopoulos and Micro Land, their nearest location for a store is founded only in Patras, the capital of the Peloponnese.
Its length of barbwires is about 2000 to 5000 km, and the rest are fenced near farms with grasses and bushes.
Tourism
Tourism is mainly founded along the beaches of western Peloponnese. In the range of 60% to 70% tour the beaches of Elia or the western Peloponnese every year and decade. Tourism flourishes in the summer season in hotels in the Kyllini area, and its thermal springs next to the Ionian Islands. One of the highest number of tourists in the area, the Kyllini coast. Tourists flock through seaside restaurants which is a hotspot for tourists. Another tourist attraction is Olympia, along with its ancient ruins. Most of the stores are almost flourished with items that relate with ancient Olympia. There are hotels in Pyrgos.
The history of tourism began in the 1960s when airplanes came to the market. tourism has steadily increasing throughout the latter part of the 20th century. Most of the tourists are from Western and Northern Europe, especially Southern Europe, and Germany. The remainder of tourists come from the Americas, Israel and South Africa. Far East states are the smallest. Bad weather had taken a toll on tourism which began in 2002. More touristic info can be found here.
Population
- 1991: 174,021, density: 65 inh./km²
- 2001: 192,340, density: 71.74/km²
History
776 BC: The first Olympic games held in Olympia. These games lasted into the Roman Empire.
3rd - 4th century: Goths, Slavs and Vandals rampaged through the region, leaving untold destruction of homes and people were panicking not just in Elia but also around Greece.
1000s - 1200s Fortress-like Chlemoutsi were built by the Franks to prevent attacks from the northern frontiers from conquering.
1204 The principality of Achaea was created and Elia was included in the principality for the next 256 years (about 2 and a half centuries). The principality had its own capital at Andravida.
1460 The principality of Achaea which included much of Elia conquered and joined the Ottoman Empire which lasted until Greek independence of 1821 (length: 361 years, 3 centuries, 61 years).
early and mid 1940s World War II struck portions of Elia.
1953 or 1954: Remnants of the Ionian earthquake trembled nearly the whole area. The damage was probably in the minor range. Some buildings were damaged and some people were injured. Most of the damage happened northwest of Pyrgos.
1980s to 1990s New highway extension and a by-pass began to open and E55 was remapped. It spanned 65 kilometers, including 42 kilometres of widening, and 23 kilometres of extensions and by-passes. It meant better flow of traffic from Patras to Pyrgos.
mid-1992: A fire in Lechaina's east destroyed 50 square kilometers of forest, land, farms and property. Power was cut off for several days.
mid-1993 An earthquake trembled most of Elia. A mid-afternoon earthquake caused minor of some severe damage to property. It was nearly a strong earthquake, because it is located near an earthquake zone.
late-1990s (1997 to 1999) Tens of forest fires have been reported. Total cost of fires was in the 30,000,000 drachmas ($100,000) range.
mid-1999 Mudslide devastates road connecting Pyrgos, Krestena, Andritsaina, Megalopolis, Sparta, and Laconia. Access was completely cut off for several days. The road was repaired with better engineering.
July-August, 1999 Forest fire threatens forest near the ancient city of Olympia. Tens of square km were consumed by an enormous fire. GR-74 during that day along with other rarely used roads were shut down. The fire was completely put out in a couple of days.
2001: Workers opened a Neochori by-pass which will send vehicles to Kyllini (Kyllene) in just around 15 minutes in a 60 km/h zone. The distance is reduced to 10 kilometers from 13 kilometers. This is a result of closing down a railway (railroad) that communicates Kavasila or Kavasilas and the Port of Kyllini.
August 2001:: Farmers demand more money during a strike. Farmers were blocking traffic by tractors. The strike lasted for about a week. Attempts were done on GR-9 1.5 km SW of Kardamas and 20 km NW of Pyrgos at the Dounaiika-Amalias Junction. Hundreds attend to protest lower prices and lower production.
August-September 2002: A series of late August-early September (late-summer) earthquates rattle the area. One measuring the richter scale in the 5.4 range, and happened 10 km (6 mi.) deep in the Ionian sea south of Vartholomio. Houses and buildings were shaking and so did the trees. No damages were reported. The other was almost 5.6. All of the earthquakes happened around 11PM (23.00) local daylight time (20.00 UTC).
August 14, 2003: Remnants of the Lefkada earthquake tremored as far south as the northern tip of Elia, no damages were reported.
November 16, 2003 Remnants of the Cephallonia earthquake also rumbled into the region from Kalogria or Manolada southward. Damages were mostly done on that Ionian island.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
- 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 districts:
- 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.
- 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.
See also: