Elis prefecture
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.
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.
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
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: