Grevena (regional unit)

Grevena (Greek: Περιφερειακή Ενότητα Γρεβενών, Perifereiakí Enótita Grevenón) is one of the regional units of Greece. It is part of the region of Western Macedonia. Its capital is the town of Grevena.

Grevena

Περιφερειακή Ενότητα
Γρεβενών
Municipalities of Grevena
Grevena within Greece
Coordinates: 40°0′N 21°20′E
CountryGreece
RegionWestern Macedonia
CapitalGrevena
Area
  Total2,291 km2 (885 sq mi)
Population
 (2011)
  Total31,757
  Density14/km2 (36/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+2
  Summer (DST)UTC+3 (EEST)
Postal codes
51x xx
Area codes24620, 24920
ISO 3166 codeGR-51
Car platesΡΝ
Websitewww.grevena.gr

Geography

Grevena borders the regional units of Ioannina (Epirus) to the west, Kastoria to the northwest, Kozani to the north and east, Larissa to the southeast and Trikala to the south.

The Pindus mountains cover the western part of the regional unit. Other mountain ranges are Chasia in the south and Vourinos in the northeast. The longest river is Aliakmon which flows in the north and the east.

Administration

The regional unit Grevena is subdivided into 2 municipalities. These are (number as in the map in the infobox):[1]

Prefecture

Grevena was created as a prefecture (Greek: Νομός Γρεβενών) in 1964, out of parts of the prefectures of Kozani and Larissa. As a part of the 2011 Kallikratis government reform, the regional unit Grevena was created out of the former prefecture Grevena. 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 municipalityOld municipalitiesSeat
DeskatiDeskatiDeskati
Chasia
GrevenaGrevenaGrevena
Avdella
Kosmas o Aitolos/Agios Kosmas
Ventzio
Gorgiani
Dotsiko
Irakleotes
Theodoros Ziakas
Mesolouri
Perivoli
Samarina
Smixi
Filippaioi

Economy

The region's economy relies on farming and agriculture. Wheat and legume crops (mostly chickpeas) cover most of the cultivated areas. Livestock production (including goat and lamb) is also strong. An increasing portion of the farming output is produced under organic farming or low input practices. Other main sources of income include ecotourism, forest industry and the ski resort of Vasilitsa, which is a popular destination for winter holidays.

Transport

Demography

At the 2001 Greek census, Grevena was the least densely populated prefecture in Greece. Grevena has one of the highest rates of population decline in Greece. In 2006, there were 225 births (urban areas-160, semiurban-28 & rural -37) and 393 deaths (urban-96, semiurban-42 and rural-255). In rural areas, death rate was about 7 times the birth rate.

See also

References

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