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Evrytania (Greek: Ευρυτανία, alternative romanization Evritania, Latin: Eurytania) is one of the regional units of Greece. It is part of the region of Central Greece. Its capital is Karpenisi (approx. 8,200 inhabitants).

Geography

Evrytania is almost entirely formed of mountains, including the Tymfristos and the Panaitoliko in the south. Its rivers include the Acheloos in the west, Agrafiotis to the east, and Megdova in the east flowing down to the Ionian Sea. It is one of the least populated regional units in Greece. The area borders Aetolia-Acarnania to the west, southwest and south (west over the Acheloos river), Karditsa to the north, and Phthiotis to the east. Evrytania also features a famous skiing resort located near Karpenisi on the Tymfristos mountain.

Climate

Its climate is a mixture of Mediterranean and mountainous in the western portion. Much of the area receives snow in winter and is warm during the summer months.

Transport

The Greek National Road 38 from Agrinio to Lamia passes through the southern part of Evrytania and the town Karpenisi. On the border with Phthiotis, the GR-38 passes through the 1.4 km-long Tymfristos Tunnel since 2004.

History

Evrytania dates to ancient times, the area was first settled around 6000 to 5000 BC. In classical times, the Greek Eurytanes[1][2] (Greek: Ευρυτάνες) resided in the region. It then fell into Roman hands, and was later incorporated into the Byzantine Empire. Later it was a Frankish possession but with full autonomy. It was later part of the Despotate of Epirus and lastly the Ottoman Empire. Unlike other parts of Greece at the time, while the eastern and the southern parts were definitively ruled by the Ottomans, the area around Agrafa managed to sustain complete autonomy due to the difficulties experienced in conquest of the region. After 400 years, Evrytania finally became part of Greece following the Greek War of Independence. The economy boomed with agriculture, while its village economy has been poor. As in all of Greece, the area was affected by World War II, and later the Greek Civil War. Peace finally returned to Evrytania at the end of the 1940s and its economy expanded, though there was significant migration from the villages to cities. It received electricity, radio communications, motor transport and fuller roads in the 1950s, the GR-38 became paved, and the prefecture's only ski resort opened. Computer and Internet connections were put in place in the 1990s.

Administration

The regional unit Evrytania is subdivided into 2 municipalities. These are (number as in the map in the infobox):[3]

Agrafa (2)
Karpenisi (1)

Prefecture

Evrytania was created as a prefecture in 1947 out of the Aetolia-Acarnania prefecture. As a part of the 2011 Kallikratis government reform, the regional unit Evrytania was created out of the former prefecture Evrytania (Greek: Νομός Ευρυτανίας). The prefecture had the same territory as the present regional unit. At the same time, the municipalities were reorganised, according to the table below.[3]
New municipality Old municipalities Seat
Agrafa Agrafa Kerasochori
Aperantia
Aspropotamos
Viniani
Fragkista
Karpenisi Karpenisi Karpenisi
Domnista
Fourna
Ktimenia
Potamia
Prousos

Persons

Pavlos Bakoyannis
Markos Giolias, artist
Demosthenis Goulas, artist
Stefanos Granitsas, artist
Christos Kagaras, painter
Spyros Paliouras, a Greek artist
Zacharias Papantoniou, artist
Michael Stafylas, artist
Lefteris Theodorou, painter

Bibliography

Evrytania and the History of Agios Nikolaos
Evrytanes Istories (Evrytanian Tales)