Laconia 18386 222478275 2008-06-29T15:37:45Z Aesopos 3138216 {{otheruses}} :''For the Laconian dialect, see [[Doric Greek]]'' :''For the Ancient Kingdom, see [[Sparta]]'' :''For the laconic expression see [[Laconic]]'' {{Infobox Pref GR |name = Laconia |name_local = Νομός Λακωνίας |image_map = GreeceLaconia.png |periph = [[Peloponnese]] |capital = [[Sparti (municipality)|Sparti]] |population = 100,871 |population_as_of = 2005 |pop_rank = 37th |pop_dens = 27.7 |popdens_rank = 50th |area = 3,636 |area_rank = 10th |postal_code = 23x xx |area_code = 273x0 |licence = ΑΚ |provinces = 4 |municip = 20 |commun = 2 |ISO = GR-16 |website = }} '''Laconia''' (''{{polytonic|Λακωνία}}''), also known as '''Lacedaemonia''', is a prefecture in [[Greece]]. Laconia has the legal status of a [[Prefectures of Greece|prefecture]], with [[Sparti (municipality)|Sparti]] (Sparta) its administrative capital. Its main towns and cities are [[Amyclae]], [[Areopoli]]s, [[Gytheion]], [[Molaoi]], [[Monemvasia]], [[Mystras]], [[Neapoli, Vatika|Neapoli]] and [[Sellasia]]. It encompasses [[Cape Malea]] and [[Cape Tainaron]] and a large part of the [[Mani Peninsula]]. ==Geography== 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]]. ===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. ==Provinces== *[[Province of Epidavros Limiras]] - [[Molai]] *[[Province of Gytheio]] - [[Gytheio]] *[[Province of Lacedaemonia]] - [[Sparti (municipality)|Sparti]] *[[Province of Oitylo]] - [[Areopili]] ==Municipalities and communities== {| class="wikitable" |- ! Municipality !! Municipal code !! Seat (if different) !! Postal code |- | [[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, Laconia|Skala]] || 3219 || || 230 51 |- | [[Smynos]] || 3220 || Agios Nikolaos || 230 61 |- | [[Sparti (municipality)|Sparti]] || 3221 || || 231 00 |- | [[Therapnes]] || 3209 || Gkoritsa || 231 00 |- | [[Voies]] || 3203 || [[Neapoli (Voia)|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]] *[[List of traditional Greek place names]] ==Population history== *1907: 87,106 *1991: 95,696 (+8,590 or +98.62 from 1907) *2001: 94,918 (-778 or -0.81%) ==About Laconia and Information== The [[Evrotas River|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 Cave|Dirou]] and is a major tourist attraction. The word "[[Laconic phrase|laconic]]" is derived from the name of the region by analogy - to speak in a concise way, as the Spartans were reputed by the [[Athens|Athenians]] to do. ==History== In [[ancient Greece]] this was the principal region of the [[Sparta]]n state. Throughout classical antiquity the Spartan sphere of influence expanded [[Messenia]], whose inhabitants (the [[helots]]) were permanently enslaved. Laconia was at war with the [[Kingdom of Macedonia]] and saw several battles, while later, from the early-2nd century BC until 395 also a part of the [[Roman Empire]]. In the medieval period it formed part of the [[Byzantine Empire]], and following the [[Crusades]] it was the home of the Byzantine [[Despotate of Morea]], held by the penultimate [[Byzantine Greeks|Greek]] ruling dynasty, the [[Palaeologi|Palaiologoi]]. Laconia fell into the hands of the [[Ottoman Empire|Ottomans]] but the Mani peninsula was mainly autonomous. Laconia was finally liberated after the [[Greek War of Independence]] of 1821, and after victory in battle, Sparta was selected capital of the modern prefecture; its economy and agriculture expanded. The country and the prefecture extended beyond the Laconia of ancient times, to [[Elafonissos]] in 1864, separating it from the [[British Empire]] and dissolving [[United States of the Ionian Islands]]. The island never had full Turkish rule; it was part of the Venetian Empire from the 15th century until the [[Napoleonic Wars]]. After [[World War II]] and the [[Greek Civil War]], its population began to decline somewhat, as people moved from the villages toward the larger cities of Greece and abroad. ===Modern Laconia=== 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. The Mani portion along with Gytheio became famous in Greece for filming episodes of ''[[Vendetta (TV series)|Vendetta]]'', broadcast on [[Mega Channel]] throughout Greece and abroad on [[Mega Cosmos]]. Flooding ruined olive and citrus crops along the Evrotas river, as well as properties and villages there in early 2006. In the summer of 2006, a terrible fire devastated a part of the Mani Peninsula, ruining tens of its villages and crops, along with its forests. In recent memory, the fire lasted for several days, turning stone-built houses into a rubble-like area, and occurred again a [[2007|year later]], devastating some properties but was smaller than last year's fire. Another one in the last days of July 2007, in the vicinity of [[Skourta]], once more, in the same peninsula, ruined some groves and forest; it was a minor fire and lasted for a day only. ==Transport== *[[Greece Interstate 37]], N, Cen., S *[[Greece Interstate 82]], W *[[Greece Interstate 86]], S, E, SE, Gytheio - [[Monemvasia]] *Molaoi to Leonidi Road, E, NE ==Communications== ===[[List of radio stations in Greece|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 *[[Radio Sparti]] - 92.7 FM (Sparta) *[[Radiofonias Notias Lakonias]] (Southern Laconia Radio) - 93.5 (Gytheio) *[[Star FM]] - 94.7 ===[[List of Greek language television channels|Television]]=== *[[Ellada TV]] - UHF 43, Sparta *[[TV Notias Lakonias]] - Molaoi ===[[List of newspapers]]=== *[[Λακωνικός Τύπος]] *[[Ελεύθερη Άποψη]] *[http://www.lakonia.org/gr/gr_nea_sparth.htm Νέα Σπάρτη] *Παρατηρητής της Λακωνίας ==External links== *[http://www.gtp.gr/LocPage.asp?id=9455 GTP - Lagkadia] *[http://www.gtp.gr/LocPage.asp?id=8565 GTP - Lagkadia municipality] *[http://www.myrtidiotissa.gr Velanidia, Βελανίδια Βοιών Λακωνίας] {{coor title dm|37|00|N|22|35|E|region:GR_type:adm1st}} [[Category:Laconia|*]] [[Category:Prefectures of Greece]] [[ar:لاكونيا]] [[be:Лаконія]] [[bg:Лакония (ном)]] [[ca:Lacònia]] [[de:Lakonien]] [[el:Νομός Λακωνίας]] [[es:Laconia]] [[eo:Lakonio]] [[fr:Laconie]] [[it:Laconia]] [[he:לאקוניה]] [[la:Laconia]] [[hu:Lakónia]] [[nl:Laconië]] [[no:Lakonia]] [[nn:Lakonía]] [[pl:Lakonia]] [[pt:Lacônia]] [[ro:Laconia]] [[simple:Laconia]] [[fi:Lakonia]] [[sv:Lakonien]] [[tr:Lakonya]] [[zh:拉科尼亚]]