LaconiaorLakonia(Greek:Λακωνία,Lakonía,[lakoˈni.a]) is a historical andadministrative regionofGreecelocated on the southeastern part of thePeloponnesepeninsula. Its administrative capital isSparta.The wordlaconic—to speak in a blunt, concise way—is derived from the name of this region, a reference to the ancientSpartanswho were renowned for their verbal austerity and blunt, often pithy remarks.
Laconia
Περιφερειακή ενότητα Λακωνίας | |
|---|---|
 Municipalities of Laconia | |
  Laconia Laconia within Greece  | |
| Coordinates:37°00′N22°30′E/ 37.0°N 22.5°E | |
| Country | Greece |
| Administrative region | Peloponnese |
| Seat | Sparta |
| Area | |
• Total | 3,636 km2(1,404 sq mi) |
| Population (2021)[1] | |
• Total | 84,337 |
| • Density | 23/km2(60/sq mi) |
| Demonym | Laconian(s) |
| Time zone | UTC+2(EET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+3(EEST) |
| Postal code | 23x xx |
| Area code(s) | 273x0 |
| Vehicle registration | ΑΚ |
Geography
edit
Laconia is bordered byMesseniato the west andArcadiato the north and is surrounded by theMyrtoan Seato the east and by theLaconian Gulfand theMediterranean Seato the south. It encompassesCape MaleaandCape Tainaronand a large part of theMani Peninsula.The Mani Peninsula is in the west region of Laconia.[2]The islands ofKythiraandAntikytheralie to the south, but they administratively belong to theAtticaregional unit ofislands.The island,Elafonisos,situated between the Laconian mainland and Kythira, is part of Laconia.
TheEvrotasis the longest river in the prefecture. TheEvrotas Valleyis predominantly an agricultural region that contains many citrus groves, olive groves, and pasture lands. It is the location of the largest orange production in the Peloponnese and probably in all of Greece.Lakonia,a brand of orange juice, is based inAmykles.
The main mountain ranges are theTaygetus2,407 m (7,897 ft) in the west and theParnon1,961 m (6,434 ft) in the northeast. Taygetus, known as Pentadaktylos (five-fingers) throughout the Middle Ages, is west of Sparta and theEvrotas 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 theManidistrict to the south.
Thestalactitecave, Dirou, a major tourist attraction, is located south ofAreopolisin the southwest of Laconia.
Climate
editThe city of Sparta enjoys a sunny and warmMediterranean 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.[3]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 inStylidain July 2023.[4][5]The highest temperature ever recorded in Sparta is 45.7 °C (114.3 °F) in August 2021.[6]On average, Sparta records 5 days per year with temperatures of over 40.0 °C (104.0 °F).[7]
| 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),[8][9] Sparta N.O.A station,[10]World Meteorological Organization[11] | |||||||||||||
| Climate data forSparta 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[3] | |||||||||||||
History
editAncient
edit
Evidence ofNeolithicsettlement in southern Laconia has been found during excavations of theAlepotrypa cavesite.[12]Significant archaeological recovery exists at theVaphio-tombsite in Laconia. Found there is advancedBronze Ageart as well as evidence of cultural associations with the contemporaneousMinoanculture onCrete.[13]At the end of the Mycenean period, the population of Laconia sharply declined.[14]Inclassical Greece,Laconia was Spartan territory but from the 4th century BC onward Sparta lost control of various ports, towns and areas.[15][16]From the mid-2nd century BC until 395 AD, Laconia was a part of theRoman Empire.
Medieval
edit
In the medieval period, Laconia formed part of theByzantine Empire.In the 7th century,Slavictribes settled in the Peloponnese. Two of them, theMelingoiand theEzeritai,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 theFourth Crusade,Laconia was gradually conquered by theFrankishPrincipality of Achaea.In the 1260s, the Byzantines recoveredMystrasand other fortresses in the region and managed to evict the Franks from Laconia, which became the nucleus of a new Byzantine province. By the mid-14th century, this evolved into theDespotate of the Morea,held by the lastGreekruling dynasty, thePalaiologoi.The capital of the Despotate,Mystras,was a major site of thePalaiologan Renaissance,the last flowering ofByzantine culture.With the fall of the Despotate to theOttomansin 1460, Laconia was conquered as well.
Modern
editWith the exception of a30-year intervalofVenetianrule, Laconia remained under Ottoman control until the outbreak of theGreek War of Independenceof 1821. Following independence, Sparta was selected as the capital of the modern prefecture, and its economy and agriculture expanded. With the incorporation of the British-ruledIonian Islandsinto Greece in 1864,Elafonissosbecame part of the prefecture. AfterWorld War IIand theGreek Civil War,its population began to somewhat decline, as people moved from the villages toward the larger cities of Greece and abroad.
In 1992, a devastating fire ruined the finestolivecrops in the northern part of the prefecture, and affected the area ofSellasiaalong withOinountasand 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
edit
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
editAs a part of the 2011 Kallikratis government reform, regional unit Laconia was created out of the formerprefectureLaconia (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
edit- Epidavros Limira Province–Molaoi
- Gytheio Province–Gytheio
- Lacedaemonia Province–Sparti
- Oitylo Province–Areopoli
Note:Provinces no longer hold any legal status inGreece.
Population
edit| Year | Pop. | ±% |
|---|---|---|
| 1907 | 87,106 | — |
| 1991[18] | 90,600 | +4.0% |
| 2001[18] | 92,811 | +2.4% |
| 2011[18] | 89,138 | −4.0% |
| 2021[1] | 84,337 | −5.4% |
The main cities and towns of Laconia are (ranked by 2021 census population):
Transport
edit- 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
editRadio
edit- 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
edit- Ellada TV– UHF 43, Sparta
- TV Notias Lakonias– Molaoi
Newspapers
edit- Λακωνικός Τύπος
- Ελεύθερη Άποψη
- Νέα Σπάρτη
- Παρατηρητής της Λακωνίας
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ab"Αποτελέσματα Απογραφής Πληθυσμού - Κατοικιών 2021, Μόνιμος Πληθυσμός κατά οικισμό"[Results of the 2021 Population - Housing Census, Permanent population by settlement] (in Greek). Hellenic Statistical Authority. 29 March 2024.
- ^www.thegreektravel.com."Lakonia Greece, Mani, Monamvassia, Sparti, Gytheio, Mystras, Elafonissos, Gytheio, Hotels in lakonia, activities, travel greece".www.thegreektravel.com.Archivedfrom the original on 27 September 2017.Retrieved26 September2017.
- ^abΣπάρτη: H υπερδύναμη της καλοκαιρινής ζέστης στην Ελλάδα(in Greek). Meteoclub.Archivedfrom the original on 5 September 2014.Retrieved7 June2016.
- ^"Stylida NOA".Archived fromthe originalon 4 August 2023.Retrieved4 August2023.
- ^"N.O.A July 2012 bulletin"(PDF).Archived fromthe original(PDF)on 28 February 2013.Retrieved20 January2013.
- ^Deltio data
- ^"Meteo.gr - Προγνώσεις καιρού για όλη την Ελλάδα".Archivedfrom the original on 2 February 2023.Retrieved28 November2023.
- ^"Climate"(in Greek). National Observatory of Athens. Archived fromthe originalon 27 September 2022.
- ^"N.O.A Monthly Bulletins".Archivedfrom the original on 2 February 2023.Retrieved28 November2023.
- ^"Latest Conditions in Sparta".
- ^"World Meteorological Organization".Archivedfrom the original on 12 July 2023.Retrieved14 July2023.
- ^Cartledge, Paul (26 May 2003).The Spartans.The Overlook Press.ISBN978-1-59020-837-3.
- ^C. Michael Hogan,Knossos fieldnotes,Modern Antiquarian(2007)Archived11 July 2018 at theWayback Machine
- ^Sarah B. Pomeroy,Stanley M. Burstein and Walter Donlan (1998)Ancient Greece: A Political, Social, and Cultural History,512 pages, Oxford University Press,ISBN0-19-509742-4
- ^Cartledge, Paul (2002).Sparta and Lakonia: a regional history, 1300-362 B.C.(2nd ed.). New York: Routledge. pp.228–259,273–277.ISBN0415262763.
- ^Cartledge, Paul (2002).Hellenistic and Roman Sparta: a tale of two cities(2nd ed.). London: Routledge.ISBN0415262771.
- ^ab"ΦΕΚ A 87/2010, Kallikratis reform law text"(in Greek).Government Gazette.Archivedfrom the original on 18 July 2010.Retrieved7 September2021.
- ^abc"Απογραφές πληθυσμού 1991,2001,2011 σύμφωνα με την κωδικοποίηση της Απογραφής 2011"(in Greek).Hellenic Statistical Authority.Retrieved17 April2024.