Larissa Περιφερειακή ενότητα Λάρισας | |
|---|---|
 Municipalities of Larissa | |
 Larissa within Greece | |
  Larissa | |
| Coordinates:39°40′N22°30′E / 39.667°N 22.500°E /39.667; 22.500 | |
| Country | Greece |
| Administrative region | Thessaly |
| Seat | Larissa |
| Area | |
• Total | 5,381 km2 (2,078 sq mi) |
| Population (2021)[1] | |
• Total | 268,963 |
| • Density | 49.98/km2 (129.5/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+2 (EET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+3 (EEST) |
| Postal code | 40x xx, 41x xx |
| Area code | 241, 2491-2495 |
| Vehicle registration | ΡΙ |
Larissa (Greek:Περιφερειακή ενότητα Λάρισας) is one of theregional units of Greece. It is part of theregion ofThessaly. Its capital is the city ofLarissa. Total population 268,963 (2021).
Larissa is the second largest regional unit in Greece, exceeded only byAetolia-Acarnania. It covers about one-third of Thessaly. It borders the regional units ofKozani to the northwest,Pieria to the northeast, theAegean Sea to the east,Magnesia to the southeast,Phthiotis to the south,Karditsa to the southwest andTrikala to the west.
The tallest mountain in Greece,Mount Olympus (2,917 m) is situated in the northeastern part of the regional unit.Mount Ossa is situated in the east, at the Aegean coast. The lower stretch of the riverPineios flows through theVale of Tempe, between Olympus and Ossa.
The northern part is covered withforests, but most of the regional unit is fertile land, theThessalian Plain.
Larissa has a mainlyMediterranean climate with hot summers and mild winters. Winter is harsher in the mountains areas, notably the north and Mount Olympus. Larissa is often the warmest area in Greece in summer and the coldest in winter. The highest temperature ever recorded was 45.4 °C (2000) and the coldest was -21.6 °C (1968). The city experiences very often temperatures over 40 °C.
The regional unit Larissa is subdivided into 7 municipalities. These are (number as in the map in the infobox):[2]
Larissa was created as aprefecture (Greek:Νομός Λάρισας) in 1882. As a part of the2011 Kallikratis government reform, the regional unit Larissa was created out of the former prefecture Larissa. 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Agia | Agia | Agia |
| Evrymenes | ||
| Lakereia | ||
| Melivoia | ||
| Elassona | Elassona | Elassona |
| Antichasia | ||
| Verdikoussa | ||
| Karya | ||
| Livadi | ||
| Olympos | ||
| Potamia | ||
| Sarantaporo | ||
| Tsaritsani | ||
| Farsala | Farsala | Farsala |
| Enippeas | ||
| Narthaki | ||
| Polydamantas | ||
| Kileler | Kileler | Nikaia |
| Armenio | ||
| Krannonas | ||
| Nikaia | ||
| Platykampos | ||
| Larissa (Larisa) | Larissa | Larissa |
| Giannouli | ||
| Koilada | ||
| Tempi | Makrychori | Makrychori |
| Ampelakia | ||
| Gonnoi | ||
| Kato Olympos | ||
| Nessonas | ||
| Tyrnavos | Tyrnavos | Tyrnavos |
| Ampelonas |
Note: Provinces no longer hold any legal status inGreece, they were abolished in 2006.
The area of Larissa was home to thePelasgians until they merged into the broaderGreek culture. The area was invaded and was ruled by theKingdom of Macedonia a few centuries later, and was conquered by theRoman Republic after theThird Macedonian War. TheRoman imperial period was followed byByzantine rule, which was in turn succeeded by theOttoman Empire. Parts of Thessaly revolted during theGreek War of Independence, but Thessaly remained under Ottoman Turkish rule. It was awarded to Greece in theCongress of Berlin in 1878, and finally incorporated into theHellenic Kingdom in 1881, albeit parts of the modern Larissa prefecture, includingTyrnavos,Elassona andSarantaporo, remained Ottoman. During theGreco-Turkish War of 1897, the area was successfully invaded by the Ottomans, but in the end Greece conceded only minor territorial losses. The northern portions of the prefecture, theTempe Valley andMount Olympus, were taken by Greece during theFirst Balkan War in 1912-1913.
The economy increased since the annexation in 1881 and later after 1913 for the north. After theGreco-Turkish War in Asia Minor of 1920-1922, refugees were relocated to the Prefecture. Several villages were created for them across the prefecture. DuringWorld War II, the area was a major scene ofpartisan activity. The occupation and the subsequentGreek Civil War however destroyed most of the local infrastructure. From the 1950s on, the road network was significantly expanded: theGR-1 was opened in 1957 and extended in the 1960s to the Tempe Valley. In 1984, theUniversity of Thessaly opened its doors.
Its main economy since the 1970s are manufacturing, businesses, communications and services. Agriculture is the second leading industry.
TheThessalian Plain is famous for its crops including fruits (watermelon andmelon), vegetables (tomatoes,potatoes,cucumbers,onions, etc.),cotton, dairy, cattle and other crops.
There are a number of highwaysE75 and the main railway fromAthens toThessaloniki crossesThessaly. The region is directly linked to the rest ofEurope throughInternational Airport of Central Greece located inNea Anchialos in a small distance from Larisa (26 kilometers).
Sporting clubs include:
Administrative division of theThessaly Region | ||
|---|---|---|
| Regional unit ofKarditsa |  | |
| Regional unit ofLarissa | ||
| Regional unit ofMagnesia | ||
| Regional unit of theSporades | ||
| Regional unit ofTrikala | ||
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| International | |
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| Geographic | |
| Other | |
