Laconia
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Laconia Prefecture Νομός Λακωνίας |
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Periphery | Peloponnese |
Capital | Sparta |
Population | 100,871 (2005)Ranked 37th |
Area | 3,636 km² Ranked 10th |
Population density | 27.7/km²Ranked 50th |
Number of provinces | 4 |
Number of municipalities | 20 |
Number of communities | 2 |
Postal codes | 23x xx |
Area codes | 273x0 |
Licence plate code | ΑΚ |
ISO 3166-2 code | GR-16 |
Laconia (Λακωνία; see also List of traditional Greek place names), also known as Lacedaemonia, is a prefecture in Greece. In ancient Greece it was the principal region of the Spartan state. Throughout classical antiquity the Spartan sphere of influence expanded Messenia, whose inhabitants (the helots) were permanently enslaved. In medieval times it was part of the Byzantine Empire and following the Crusades it was the home of the Byzantine Despotate of Morea, held by the penultimate Greek ruling dynasty, the Palaiologoi. In modern times, Laconia has the legal status of a prefecture, with Sparta its administrative capital. Its main towns and cities are Amyclae, Areopolis, Gytheion, Molaoi, Monemvasia, Mystras, Neapoli and Sellasia. It encompasses Cape Malea and Cape Tainaron and a large part of the Mani Peninsula.
The Evrotas is the longest river in the prefecture. The valley of the Evrotas is predominantly an agricultural region that contains many citrus groves, olive groves and pasture lands and most of all, oranges. It is the location of the largest orange production in the Peloponnese and probably all of Greece. The brand of orange juice named after this prefecture Lakonia is based in Amyclae and sells fresh orange juice entirely from this region.
Taygetus (2,407 m), known as Pentadaktylos (five-fingers) throughout the middle ages, is west of Sparta and the Evrotas valley. It is the highest mountain in Laconia and the Peloponnese, and mostly covered with pine trees. Two roads connect the adjoining prefectures of Messinia and Laconia: one is a tortuous mountain pass through Taygetus and the other bypasses the mountain via the Mani district to the south. The other major mountain is Parnon (1,961 m) to the east.
A stalactite cave in the southwest of the prefecture is located south of Areopolis. This famous cave is called Dirou and is a major tourist attraction.
It is bounded by the Taygetus mountains to the west with Messenia, Arcadia to the north and with the Parnon mountains to the northeast, the Myrtoan Sea to the east and the Gulf of Laconia and the Mediterranean Sea to the south. The islands of Cythera and Antikythera lie to the south, but they administratively belong to the prefecture of Piraeus.
The word "laconic" is derived from the name of the region by analogy - to speak in a concise way, as the Spartans were reputed by the Athenians to do.
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[edit] Climate
The area has hot summers and mild winters in most of the prefecture while in the mountains, especially Taygetus, snow is very common throughout the winter.
[edit] Transport
- Greece Interstate 37, N, Cen., S
- Molaoi to Leonidi Road, E, NE
- Greece Interstate 82, W
- Greece Interstate 86, S, E, SE, Gytheio - Monemvasia
[edit] Communications
[edit] Radio
- FLY FM 89,7 (Sparta). This is a popular radio station of Lakonia. Its website is www.flyradio.gr
- Lakonia FM - 91.1 FM (Sparta)
- Politeia FM - 90.7 FM & 91.5 FM
- Radiofonias Notias Lakonias (Southern Laconia Radio) - 93.5 (Gytheio)
- Radio Sparti - 92.7 FM (Sparta)
- Star FM - 94.7
[edit] Television
- Ellada TV - UHF 43, Sparta
- TV Notias Lakonias - Molaoi
[edit] Population history
[edit] Provinces
- Province of Epidavros Limiras - Molai
- Province of Gytheio - Gytheio
- Province of Lacedaemonia - Sparta
- Province of Oitylo - Areopili
[edit] Municipalities and communities
Municipality | Municipal code | Seat (if different) | Postal code |
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Asopos | 3202 | Papadianika | 230 56 |
East Mani | 3201 | Kotronas | 230 66 |
Elos | 3207 | Vlachiotis | 230 55 |
Faris | 3222 | Xirokampi | 230 54 |
Geronthres | 3204 | Geraki | 230 58 |
Gytheio | 3205 | 232 00 | |
Krokees | 3211 | 230 57 | |
Molaoi | 3212 | 230 52 | |
Monemvassia | 3213 | 230 70 | |
Mystras | 3214 | Magoula | 231 00 |
Niata | 3215 | Agios Dimitrios | 230 60 |
Oinountas | 3216 | Sellasia | 230 64 |
Oitylo | 3217 | Areopoli | 230 62 |
Pellana | 3218 | Kastoreio | 230 59 |
Skala | 3219 | 230 51 | |
Smynos | 3220 | Agios Nikolaos | 230 61 |
Sparta | 3221 | 231 00 | |
Therapnes | 3209 | Gkoritsa | 231 00 |
Voies | 3203 | Neapoli | 230 53 |
Zarakas | 3208 | Reichea | 230 68 |
Community | Municipal code | Seat (if different) | Postal code |
Elafonisos | 3206 | 230 53 | |
Karyes | 3210 | 230 67 |
See also: List of settlements in the Laconia prefecture
[edit] External links
- http://lakonia.net
- http://www.laconia.org
- Map of Laconia
- GTP - Lagkadia
- GTP - Lagkadia municipality
- Panoramic photos of Mani Laconia
- In German:
- in Greek: