Laconia

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For other uses, see Laconia (disambiguation).

Laconia Prefecture Νομός Λακωνίας

Periphery	Peloponnese
Capital	Sparta
Population	100,871 (2005)Ranked 37th
Area	3,636 km² Ranked 10th
Population density	27.7/km²Ranked 50th
Number of provinces	4
Number of municipalities	20
Number of communities	2
Postal codes	23x xx
Area codes	273x0
Licence plate code	ΑΚ
ISO 3166-2 code	GR-16

Laconia (Λακωνία; see also List of traditional Greek place names), also known as Lacedaemonia, was in ancient Greece the portion of the Peloponnese of which the most important city was Sparta. Throughout classical antiquity the Spartans held Messenia, whose inhabitants (the helots) were permanently enslaved. In medieval times it was part of the Byzantine Empire and following the Crusades it was the home of the Byzantine Despotate of Morea, held by the penultimate Byzantine ruling dynasty, the Palaeologi. In modern times, Laconia has the legal status of a prefecture, with Sparta its administrative capital. Its main towns and cities are Amyclae, Areopolis, Gytheion, Molaoi, Monemvasia, Mystras, Neapoli and Sellasia. It encompasses Cape Malea and Cape Tainaron and a large part of the Mani Peninsula.

The Evrotas is the longest river in the prefecture. The valley of the Evrotas is predominantly an agricultural region that contains many citrus groves, olive groves and pasture lands and most of all, oranges. It is the location of the largest orange production in the Peloponnese and probably all of Greece. The brand of orange juice named after this prefecture Lakonia is based in Amyclae and sells fresh orange juice entirely from this region.

Taygetus (2,407 m), known as Pentadaktylos (five-fingers) throughout the middle ages, is west of Sparta and the Evrotas valley. It is the highest mountain in Laconia and the Peloponnese, and mostly covered with pine trees. Two roads connect the adjoining prefectures of Messinia and Laconia: one is a tortuous mountain pass through Taygetus and the other bypasses the mountain via the Mani district to the south. The other major mountain is Parnon (1,961 m) to the east.

A stalactite cave in the southwest of the prefecture is located south of Areopolis. This famous cave is called Dirou and is a major tourist attraction.

It is bounded by the Taygetus mountains to the west with Messenia, Arcadia to the north and with the Parnon mountains to the northeast, the Myrtoan Sea to the east and the Gulf of Laconia and the Mediterranean Sea to the south. The islands of Cythera and Antikythera lie to the south, but they administratively belong to the prefecture of Piraeus.

The 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.

1 Climate
2 Transportation
3 Communications
- 3.1 Radio
- 3.2 Television
4 Population history
5 Provinces
6 Municipalities and communities
7 External links

[edit] 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.

[edit] 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

[edit] Communications

[edit] Radio

FLY FM 89,7 (Sparta). This is a popular radio station of Lakonia. Its website is www.flyradio.gr
Lakonia FM - 91.1 FM (Sparta)
Politeia FM - 90.7 FM & 91.5 FM
Radiofonias Notias Lakonias (Southern Laconia Radio) - 93.5 (Gytheio)
Radio Sparti - 92.7 FM (Sparta)
Star FM - 94.7

[edit] Television

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

[edit] Population history

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

[edit] Provinces

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

[edit] Municipalities and communities

Municipality	Municipal code	Seat (if different)	Postal code
Asopos	3202	Papadianika	230 56
East Mani	3201	Kotronas	230 66
Elos	3207	Vlachiotis	230 55
Faris	3222	Xirokampi	230 54
Geronthres	3204	Geraki	230 58
Gytheio	3205		232 00
Krokees	3211		230 57
Molaoi	3212		230 52
Monemvassia	3213		230 70
Mystras	3214	Magoula	231 00
Niata	3215	Agios Dimitrios	230 60
Oinountas	3216	Sellasia	230 64
Oitylo	3217	Areopoli	230 62
Pellana	3218	Kastoreio	230 59
Skala	3219		230 51
Smynos	3220	Agios Nikolaos	230 61
Sparta	3221		231 00
Therapnes	3209	Gkoritsa	231 00
Voies	3203	Neapoli	230 53
Zarakas	3208	Reichea	230 68
Community	Municipal code	Seat (if different)	Postal code
Elafonissos	3206		230 53
Karyes	3210		230 67