Ioannina (regional unit)

Ioannina (Greek: Περιφερειακή ενότητα Ιωαννίνων) is one of the regional units of Greece, located in the northwestern part of the country.

Ioannina
Περιφερειακή ενότητα
Ιωαννίνων
Municipalities of Ioannina
Municipalities of Ioannina
Ioannina is located in Greece
Ioannina
Ioannina
Ioannina within Greece
Coordinates: 39°45′N 20°50′E / 39.750°N 20.833°E / 39.750; 20.833
CountryGreece
Administrative regionEpirus
SeatIoannina
Area
 • Total4,990 km2 (1,930 sq mi)
Population
 (2021)[1]
 • Total160,773
 • Density32/km2 (83/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+2 (EET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+3 (EEST)
Postal code
44x xx, 45x xx
Area code(s)265x0
Vehicle registrationIN
Websitewww.php.gov.gr

It is part of the region of Epirus. Its capital is the city of Ioannina. It is the largest regional unit in Epirus, and one of the largest regional units of Greece, with a population of 160,773 people, according to the 2021 census.[1]

Geography

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Ioannina borders Albania in the north, and the regional units of Kastoria in the northeast, Grevena and Trikala in the east, Arta in the southeast, Preveza in the south and Thesprotia in the southwest and west.

Ioannina is a mountainous region, dominated by the Pindus mountains, that cover the eastern part of the regional unit. The main subranges of the Pindus are from north to south: Gramos, Smolikas (2,637 m, the highest of the Pindus), Tymfi, Lygkos, Lakmos and Athamanika. The lower Xerovouni mountains are situated in the south, and the Tomaros in the southwest.

Lake Pamvotida is the largest lake of Epirus. Several major rivers have their source in the Ioannina regional unit, including Aoös, Arachthos and Acheron.

History

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See also the history sections of the Epirus and Ioannina articles.

The area of the present regional unit of Ioannina joined Greece in 1913, after the First Balkan War.

Administration

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The regional unit Ioannina is subdivided into 8 municipalities. These are (numbered as in the map in the infobox):[2]

Prefecture

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Ioannina was established as a prefecture in 1915 (Greek: Νομός Ιωαννίνων). As a part of the 2011 Kallikratis government reform, the regional unit Ioannina was created out of the former prefecture Ioannina. The prefecture had the same territory as the present regional unit. At the same time, the municipalities were reorganised, according to the table below.[2]

New municipality Old municipalities Seat
Dodoni Dodoni Agia Kyriaki
Agios Dimitrios
Lakka Souliou
Selloi
Ioannina Ioannina Ioannina
Anatoli
Bizani
Ioannina Island
Pamvotida
Perama
Konitsa Konitsa Konitsa
Aetomilitsa
Distrato
Mastorochoria
Fourka
Metsovo Metsovo Metsovo
Egnatia
Milea
North Tzoumerka
(Voreia Tzoumerka)
Pramanta Pramanta
Vathypedo
Kalarites
Katsanochoria
Matsouki
Sirako
Tzoumerka
Pogoni Kalpaki Kalpaki
Ano Kalamas
Ano Pogoni
Delvinaki
Lavdani
Pogoniani
Zagori East Zagori Asprangeloi
Vovousa
Central Zagori
Papigko
Tymfi
Zitsa Pasaronas Eleousa
Ekali
Evrymenes
Zitsa
Molossoi

Provinces

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

Transport

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Tourism

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The prefecture of Ioannina, like most of the Greek mainland, is not as popular as the islands among tourists.[citation needed] However, besides the city Ioannina, there are a number of attractions in the area, including:

Sports

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Ioannina has a major football team, that is named PAS Giannina. There are minor sports teams throughout the prefecture:

  • Averoff
  • Dafnoula
  • Eleousa
  • Kefalovrysi
  • Metsovo
  • Mousiotitsa
  • Velissario

Literature

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  • Franz X. Bogner & Georgios Pilidis. Lake of Ioannina. 128 pages. ISBN 978-960-233-199-6. Ioannina 2010.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "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.
  2. ^ a b "ΦΕΚ A 87/2010, Kallikratis reform law text" (in Greek). Government Gazette.