Laconia
Laconia
Περιφερειακή ενότητα Λακωνίας | |
---|---|
UTC+3 (EET) | |
Postal codes | 23x xx |
Area codes | 273x0 |
ISO 3166 code | GR-16 |
Car plates | ΑΚ |
Website | www.lakonia.gr |
Laconia or Lakonia (
Geography
Laconia is bordered by
The
The main mountain ranges are the Taygetus 2,407 m (7,897 ft) in the west and the Parnon 1,961 m (6,434 ft) in the northeast. Taygetus, 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 is mostly covered with pine trees. Two roads join the Messenia and Laconia prefectures: one is a tortuous mountain pass through Taygetus and the other bypasses the mountain via the Mani district to the south.
The stalactite cave, Dirou, a major tourist attraction, is located south of Areopolis in the southwest of Laconia.
Climate
The city of Sparta enjoys a sunny and warm Mediterranean climate (Köppen: Csa). January highs are around 14 °C (57 °F) while July and August highs are around 36 °C (97 °F) in the city proper. Sparta records the highest summer average maximum temperatures in Greece.[2] In July 2012 the city registered an average maximum temperature of 38.3 °C (100.9 °F), making it Greece's second highest monthly average maximum temperature to date after the 38.6 °C (101.5 °F) recorded in Stylida in July 2023.[3][4] The highest temperature ever recorded in Sparta is 45.7 °C (114.3 °F) in August 2021.[5] On average, Sparta records 5 days per year with temperatures of over 40.0 °C (104.0 °F).[6]
Climate data for Sparta (2009–2024) | |||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
Record high °C (°F) | 23.5 (74.3) |
26.4 (79.5) |
27.2 (81.0) |
34.1 (93.4) |
40.7 (105.3) |
44.4 (111.9) |
44.2 (111.6) |
45.7 (114.3) |
40.3 (104.5) |
36.4 (97.5) |
30.8 (87.4) |
23.5 (74.3) |
45.7 (114.3) |
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 14.4 (57.9) |
16.1 (61.0) |
18.4 (65.1) |
22.8 (73.0) |
27.8 (82.0) |
32.5 (90.5) |
36.0 (96.8) |
35.9 (96.6) |
31.3 (88.3) |
25.3 (77.5) |
20.2 (68.4) |
16.1 (61.0) |
24.7 (76.5) |
Daily mean °C (°F) | 8.8 (47.8) |
10.0 (50.0) |
12.0 (53.6) |
15.4 (59.7) |
20.0 (68.0) |
24.6 (76.3) |
27.7 (81.9) |
27.7 (81.9) |
23.8 (74.8) |
18.5 (65.3) |
14.1 (57.4) |
10.2 (50.4) |
17.7 (63.9) |
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 3.1 (37.6) |
4.0 (39.2) |
5.6 (42.1) |
8.0 (46.4) |
12.2 (54.0) |
16.7 (62.1) |
19.5 (67.1) |
19.6 (67.3) |
16.4 (61.5) |
11.8 (53.2) |
7.9 (46.2) |
4.4 (39.9) |
10.8 (51.4) |
Record low °C (°F) | −5.3 (22.5) |
−4.2 (24.4) |
−4.6 (23.7) |
−0.7 (30.7) |
6.2 (43.2) |
9.4 (48.9) |
14.2 (57.6) |
13.1 (55.6) |
9.1 (48.4) |
1.5 (34.7) |
−1.7 (28.9) |
−5.2 (22.6) |
−5.3 (22.5) |
Average rainfall mm (inches) | 122.6 (4.83) |
82.3 (3.24) |
62.4 (2.46) |
33.1 (1.30) |
24.8 (0.98) |
35.3 (1.39) |
11.9 (0.47) |
19.0 (0.75) |
52.2 (2.06) |
61.5 (2.42) |
88.1 (3.47) |
92.0 (3.62) |
685.2 (26.99) |
Source: National Observatory of Athens (Feb 2009 - Feb 2024),[7][8] Sparta N.O.A station,[9] World Meteorological Organization[10] |
Climate data for Sparta Air Base (HNMS ,1974–2004) | |||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 14.4 (57.9) |
15.1 (59.2) |
17.7 (63.9) |
21.3 (70.3) |
27.0 (80.6) |
32.2 (90.0) |
34.8 (94.6) |
34.3 (93.7) |
30.5 (86.9) |
25.7 (78.3) |
19.4 (66.9) |
15.2 (59.4) |
24.0 (75.1) |
Daily mean °C (°F) | 9.6 (49.3) |
10.2 (50.4) |
12.4 (54.3) |
15.8 (60.4) |
21.2 (70.2) |
26.2 (79.2) |
28.5 (83.3) |
27.8 (82.0) |
24.2 (75.6) |
19.6 (67.3) |
14.2 (57.6) |
10.8 (51.4) |
18.4 (65.1) |
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 3.5 (38.3) |
3.8 (38.8) |
5.5 (41.9) |
7.6 (45.7) |
11.8 (53.2) |
15.9 (60.6) |
18.7 (65.7) |
18.0 (64.4) |
15.3 (59.5) |
12.3 (54.1) |
8.2 (46.8) |
5.1 (41.2) |
10.5 (50.9) |
Average rainfall mm (inches) | 90.7 (3.57) |
84.6 (3.33) |
73.3 (2.89) |
66.0 (2.60) |
47.4 (1.87) |
14.6 (0.57) |
18.8 (0.74) |
26.4 (1.04) |
30.8 (1.21) |
54.6 (2.15) |
90.0 (3.54) |
107.9 (4.25) |
705.1 (27.76) |
Source: Meteoclub.gr[11] |
History
Ancient
Evidence of
Medieval
In the medieval period, Laconia formed part of the Byzantine Empire. In the 7th century, Slavic tribes settled in the Peloponnese. Two of them, the Melingoi and the Ezeritai, who settled in parts of Laconia, survived the subsequent Byzantine reconquest and re-Hellenization of the Peloponnese, and are attested until the late Middle Ages.
Following the
Modern
With the exception of a
In 1992, a devastating fire ruined the finest olive crops in the northern part of the prefecture, and affected the area of Sellasia along with Oinountas and its surrounding areas. Firefighters, helicopters and planes battled for days to put out the horrific fire.
In early 2006, flooding ruined olive and citrus crops as well as properties and villages along the Eurotas river. In the summer 2006, a fire devastated a part of the Mani Peninsula, ruining forests, crops, and numerous villages.
Municipalities
The regional unit, Laconia, is subdivided into five municipalities. These are (number as in the map in the infobox):[17]
- East Mani (Anatoliki Mani, 2)
- Elafonisos (3)
- Eurotas (4)
- Monemvasia (5)
- Sparta(1)
Prefecture
As a part of the 2011 Kallikratis government reform, regional unit Laconia was created out of the former prefecture Laconia (Greek: Νομός Λακωνίας). The prefecture had the same territory as the present regional unit. At the same time, the municipalities were reorganised, according to the table below.[17]
New municipality | Old municipalities | Seat |
---|---|---|
East Mani (Anatoliki Mani) |
East Mani | Gytheio |
Gytheio | ||
Oitylo | ||
Sminos | ||
Elafonisos | Elafonisos | Elafonisos |
Eurotas | Skala | Skala |
Geronthres | ||
Elos | ||
Krokees | ||
Niata | ||
Monemvasia | Monemvasia | Molaoi |
Asopos | ||
Voies | ||
Zarakas | ||
Molaoi | ||
Sparti |
Sparti |
Sparti |
Therapnes | ||
Karyes | ||
Mystras | ||
Oinountas | ||
Pellana | ||
Faris |
Provinces
Note: Provinces no longer hold any legal status in Greece.
Population
- 1907: 87,106
- 1991: 95,696
- 2001: 94,918
- 2011: 89,138
The main cities and towns of Laconia are (ranked by 2011 census population):
Transport
- Greek National Road 39, Tripoli – Sparti – Gytheio
- Greek National Road 82, Pylos – Kalamata – Sparti
- Greek National Road 86, Gytheio – Monemvasia
- Molaoi to Leonidi Road, E, NE
Communications
Radio
- FLY FM 89,7 (Sparta).
- POLITIA 90,7 – ΠΟΛΙΤΕΙΑ 90.7 (Sparta)
- Radio Sparti – 92.7 FM (Sparta)
- Radiofonias Notias Lakonias (Southern Laconia Radio) – 93.5 (Gytheio)
- Star FM – 94.7
Television
- Ellada TV – UHF 43, Sparta
- TV Notias Lakonias – Molaoi
Newspapers
- Λακωνικός Τύπος
- Ελεύθερη Άποψη
- Νέα Σπάρτη
- Παρατηρητής της Λακωνίας
See also
- List of settlements in Laconia
- List of traditional Greek place names
- Laconic phrase
References
- ^ www.thegreektravel.com. "Lakonia Greece, Mani, Monamvassia, Sparti, Gytheio, Mystras, Elafonissos, Gytheio, Hotels in lakonia, activities, travel greece". www.thegreektravel.com. Retrieved 26 September 2017.
- ^ "Meteoclub.gr". Retrieved 5 September 2014.
- ^ "Stylida NOA". Archived from the original on 4 August 2023. Retrieved 4 August 2023.
- ^ "N.O.A July 2012 bulletin" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 28 February 2013. Retrieved 20 January 2013.
- ^ Deltio data
- ^ "Meteo.gr - Προγνώσεις καιρού για όλη την Ελλάδα".
- ^ "Climate" (in Greek). National Observatory of Athens. Archived from the original on 27 September 2022.
- ^ "N.O.A Monthly Bulletins".
- ^ "Latest Conditions in Sparta".
- ^ "World Meteorological Organization". Retrieved 14 July 2023.
- ^ Σπάρτη : H υπερδύναμη της καλοκαιρινής ζέστης στην Ελλάδα (in Greek). Meteoclub. Retrieved 7 June 2016.
- ISBN 978-1-59020-837-3.
- ^ C. Michael Hogan, Knossos fieldnotes, Modern Antiquarian (2007)
- ISBN 0-19-509742-4
- ISBN 0415262763.
- ISBN 0415262771.
- ^ a b "ΦΕΚ A 87/2010, Kallikratis reform law text" (in Greek). Government Gazette.