Laconia - Definition and Overview

For other uses, see Laconia (disambiguation).

Statistics
Capital:	Sparta
Area:	3,636 km²
Inhabitants:	94,916
Pop. density:	26.1/km² 2001
ISO 3166-2:	GR-16
Car designation	AK, Lakonía
Code for the municipalities:	32xx
Number of provinces	4
Number of municipalities
Number of independent communes
Area codes in Greece:	11+30-
Name of inhabitants	Laconian
Postal code:	23x xx
Website:	Homepage of Laconia (http://www.hellas.teipir.gr/prefectures/english/Lakonias/Genika.htm)
Map

Laconia (Λακωνία), also known as Lacedaemonia, was in ancient Greece the portion of the Peloponnesus of which the most important city was Sparta. In modern times, Laconia has the legal status as a prefecture of Greece with Sparta being its administrative capital. Its main towns and cities are Amyclae, Areopolis, Gytheion, Molaoi, Monemvasia, Mystras, Neapoli and Sellasia. It encompasses Cape Malea and a large part of the Mani Peninsula

Eurotas is the longest river in the prefecture. The valley of Eurotas is 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 all of Greece.

Taygetus, known as Pentedaktylos (five-fingers) throughout the middle ages, is west of Sparta and the Eurotas valley. It is the tallest mountain in Laconia and the Peloponnese. It is where most of its pine trees are founded in Laconia. The only road connecting the adjoining prefectures of Messinia and Laconia passes through the mountain. Another mountain is Parnona which is in the northeast.

A cave in the southwest of the prefecture is located south of Areopolis. This prestigious cave is called Dirou and is large tourist attraction.

The English word laconic is derived from the name of the region by analogy - to speak in a concise way, as the Spartans were reputed by the Athenians to do.

It is bounded by the Taygetus mountains to the west with Messenia, Arcadia to the north and with the Parnona mountains to the northeast, the Myrtoan Gulf to the east and the Gulf of Laconia and the Mediterranean Sea to the south.

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.

Transportation

• Greece Interstate 37, N, Cen., S
• Molaoi to Leonidi Road, E, NE
• Greece Interstate 82, W
• Greece Interstate 86, S, E, SE, Gytheio - Monemvasia

Communications

Radio

• Fly FM - 90.3 FM (Sparta)
• Lakonia FM - 91.1 FM (Sparta)
• Politeia FM - 91.9 FM
• Radiofonias Notias Lakonias (Southern Laconia Radio) - 93.5 (Gytheio)
• Radio Sparti - 92.7 FM (Sparta)
• Star FM - 94.7

Television

• Ellada TV - UHF 43, Sparta
• TV Notias Lakonias - Molaoi

Population history

• 1907: 87,106
• 1991: 95,696
• 2001: 94,918

Provinces

• Province of Epidavros Limiras - Molai
• Province fo Gytheio - Gytheio
• Province of Lacedaemonia - Sparta
• Province of Oitylo - Areopili

Municipalities

There are two independent communities and they are

• Elafonissos (mun code: 3206, postal code: 230 53)
• Karyes (mun code: 3210, postal code: 230 67)

Communities

• See Communities of Laconia

External links

• http://lakonia.net
• http://www.laconia.org
• Map of Laconia (http://www.in2greece.com/mappages/peloponissos/lakonias.htm)
• GTP - Lagkadia (http://www.gtp.gr/LocPage.asp?id=9455)
• GTP - Lagkadia municipality (http://www.gtp.gr/LocPage.asp?id=8565)

traveljournals.net - Laconia (http://www.traveljournals.net/explore/greece/map/m1207930.laconia.html)

• Municipalities of Laconia with communities and settlements (http://www.papagiannakos.com/lakonia/dimoilak.htm) (in Greek)