| Koufalia Κουφάλια |
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| Location | |
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Koufalia
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| Coordinates | |
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Location within the regional unit
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| Government | |
| Country: | Greece |
| Region: | Central Macedonia |
| Regional unit: | Thessaloniki |
| Municipality: | Chalkidona |
| Population statistics (as of 2001) | |
| Municipal unit | |
| - Population: | 10,757 |
| Other | |
| Time zone: | EET/EEST (UTC+2/3) |
Koufalia (Greek: Κουφάλια) is a former municipality and a city in the Thessaloniki regional unit, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Chalkidona, of which it is the seat and a municipal unit.[1] It is located 40 kilometres North-West of the City of Thessaloniki, and virtually by the Axios river. It consists of two communities: Koufalia and Prochoma. The population is 10,757 inhabitants, according to the 2001 census.
Koufalia is built over the ancient city of Ichnae (IXNAI). Most of its population originates from the town of Kavakli in Bulgaria. They moved to the area after the 1919 signing of the Treaty of Neuilly between Greece and Bulgaria that forced a population exchange between the two countries. In return the mostly Bulgarian[2] population of the village immigrated to Bulgaria, settling mainly on the Black Sea coast, in the area of Anchialo. The population called the city Koufalovo (Bulgarian: Куфалово).
The region enjoys many sport and nature activities. It is also active in EU initiatives targeting the northern Greek infrastructure programs, by promoting the development of the Central Macedonia region and Thessaloniki.
It has a number of cultural organisations, the main one being “Megas Alexandros” (Alexander the Great); it was founded in 1980. It has its own lending library as well as a blood bank for humanitarian purposes. Every year it organises the “River Party” on the banks of the Axios river, from 24–26 July, and religious festivals (Greek: πανηγύρια).
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