Imathia

For the ancient Greek plain, seeEmathia.

Imathia Περιφερειακή ενότητα Ημαθίας
Regional unit
Municipalities of Imathia
Imathia Imathia within Greece
Coordinates:40°35′N22°15′E
Country	Greece
Administrative region	Central Macedonia
Seat	Veroia
Area
• Total	1,701 km2(657 sq mi)
Population (2021)
• Total	131,001
• Density	77/km2(200/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+2(EET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+3(EEST)
Postal code	59x xx
Area code(s)	233x0
Vehicle registration	HM
Website	imathia.pkm.gov.gr

Imathia(Greek:Ημαθία[imaˈθia]) is one of theregional units of Greece.It is part of theregionofCentral Macedonia,within thegeographic regionofMacedonia.The capital of Imathia is the city ofVeroia.

Administration

Veria

Naousa

Alexandreia

The regional unit Imathia is subdivided into 3 municipalities. These are (number as in the map in the infobox):

• Alexandreia(2)
• Naousa(3)
• Veroia(1)

Prefecture

As a part of the 2011 Kallikratis government reform, the regional unit Imathia was created out of the former Imathia prefecture (Greek:Νομός Ημαθίας). The prefecture had the same territory as the present regional unit. At the same time, the municipalities were reorganised, according to the table below.

New municipality	Old municipalities	Seat
Alexandreia	Alexandreia	Alexandreia
	Antigonides
	Meliki
	Platy
Naousa	Naousa	Naousa
	Anthemia
	Eirinoupoli
Veroia	Veroia	Veroia
	Apostolos Pavlos
	Vergina
	Dovras
	Makedonida

Provinces

The former prefecture of Imathia was subdivided into the followingprovinces:

Provinces of Imathia Prefecture	Seat
Imathia Province	Veroia
Naousa Province	Naousa

Note: Provinces no longer hold any legal status in Greece since 2006.

Geography

The northeastern part of Imathia, along the lower course of the riverAliakmonas,is a vast agricultural plain known asKampaniaorRoumlouki.The area is known for the production of fruit crops, such aspeachesandstrawberries.Much of the population lives in this plain, where the townsAlexandreiaandVeroiaare situated. Imathia has a short shoreline on theThermaic Gulf,around the mouth of the Aliakmonas. The mountainous western part of Imathia is covered by theVermio Mountains,reaching 2,052 metres near the city ofNaousa.ThePierian Mountainsreach into the southern part of Imathia, south of the Aliakmonas. The regional unit borders onPieriato the south,Kozanito the west,Pellato the north andThessalonikito the east. Imathia has a mainlyMediterranean climatewith warm, dry summers and mild, wet winters.

Transport

Therailway from Thessaloniki to Florinaand the importantrailway from Thessaloniki to Athenspass through Imathia, with main stations atPlaty,VeroiaandAlexandreia.TheA1andA2(Egnatia Odos) motorways, and theEO1,EO4andEO4anational roads pass through Imathia. TheAlexandreia Airportis a military airport.

History

The entrance to the "Great Tumulus" atVergina.

Imathia was named after the historic regionEmathia,which was used by several classical authors as a synonym forBottiaeaor even all ofMacedon.Important ancient towns in the area of present Imathia wereAegaeandBeroea.As a part of theMacedoniaregion, it was ruled by thekingdom of Macedonia,theRoman Empire,theByzantine Empireand from early 15th century by theOttoman Empire.In 1913, as a result of theSecond Balkan War,it became part of Greece. During and after theGreco-Turkish War (1919–1922),several refugees fromTurkeysettled in Imathia. Initially part of theprefecture of Thessaloniki,Imathia became aprefecturein 1946, and Veroia was selected as its capital.

Media

Newspapers

• Agrotikoi Orizontes
• Elefthero Vima
• Epikaira Imathias
• Epta Imathias
• Imerisia
• Kerkida
• Laos
• Pliroforisi
• Macedonika Nea

Culture

Museums

• Wine and Vine Museum (Naoussa)
• Archaeological Museum of Veroia
• Byzantine Museum of Veroia
• Folklore Museum of the Lyceum of Hellenic Women (Naoussa)

Sports clubs

• Veria F.C.- Veroia
• Pontioi Veria F.C.- Veroia
• Naoussa F.C.- Naousa
• Alexandria F.C.- Alexandria

See also

• Emathus
• List of settlements in Imathia
• Former toponyms in Imathia Prefecture

External links

• Asyrmato Mitropolitiko Dyktio Hmathias,The local wireless network
• Official website
• Veroia 11th Public School