| Arta Περιφερειακή ενότητα Άρτας |
|
|---|---|
| — Regional unit — | |
| Municipalities of Arta | |
| Arta within Greece | |
| Coordinates: | |
| Country | Greece |
| Region | Epirus |
| Capital | Arta |
| Area | |
| • Total | 1,662 km2 (641.7 sq mi) |
| Population (2005) | |
| • Total | 77,680 |
| • Density | 46.7/km2 (121.1/sq mi) |
| Postal codes | 47x xx |
| Area codes | 268x0 |
| ISO 3166 code | GR-31 |
| Car plates | ΑΤ |
| Website | www.arta.gr |
Arta (Greek: Περιφερειακή ενότητα Άρτας) is one of the regional units of Greece. It is part of the Epirus region. Its capital is the town of Arta.
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The regional unit of Arta is located north of the Ambracian Gulf. The main mountain ranges are the Athamanika in the northeast, the Pindus in the east, and Valtou in the southeast. Only one mountain road links Arta with the Pineios valley and Thessaly. There are low-lying agricultural plains in the west. Arta borders on the regional units of Preveza in the west, Ioannina to the north, Trikala in the east, Karditsa to the east and Aetolia-Acarnania to the south.
The main rivers are the Acheloos in the east, the Arachthos in the centre, and the Louros in the west. Most of the population lives in the west, in the Arachthos valley, south and east of Arta. The Athamanika and Valtou mountains are the least populated.
The regional unit Arta is subdivided into 4 municipalities. These are (number as in the map in the infobox):[1]
Arta was established as a prefecture in 1882 (Greek: Νομός Άρτας). As a part of the 2011 Kallikratis government reform, the regional unit Arta was created out of the former prefecture Arta. The prefecture had the same territory as the present regional unit. At the same time, the municipalities were reorganised, according to the table below.[1]
| New municipality | Old municipalities | Seat |
|---|---|---|
| Arta | Arta | Arta |
| Amvrakikos | ||
| Vlacherna | ||
| Xirovouni | ||
| Filothei | ||
| Central Tzoumerka (Kentrika Tzoumerka) |
Athamania | Vourgareli |
| Agnanta | ||
| Theodoriana | ||
| Melissourgoi | ||
| Georgios Karaiskakis | Georgios Karaiskakis | Ano Kalentini |
| Irakleia | ||
| Tetrafylia | ||
| Nikolaos Skoufas | Peta | Peta |
| Arachthos | ||
| Kommeno | ||
| Kompoti |
The area around Arta was ceded at the Congress of Berlin to Greece in 1881 by the Ottoman Empire, along with Thessaly. A famous landmark of Arta is the Old Bridge over the Arachthos river.
As one of the first completed sections of the future Ionia Odos linking Ioannina with Patras and Kalamata, the motorway bypass of the GR-5 around Arta was opened in 1997. The main highways are:
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