Araxos

Araxos
Άραξος
Araxos
Coordinates: 38°10′N 21°25′E / 38.167°N 21.417°E / 38.167; 21.417Coordinates: 38°10′N 21°25′E / 38.167°N 21.417°E / 38.167; 21.417
Country Greece
Administrative region West Greece
Regional unit Achaea
Municipality West Achaea
Municipal unit Larissos
Highest elevation 289 m (948 ft)
Lowest elevation 0 m (0 ft)
Population (2011)[1]
 • Rural 445
Community[1]
 • Population 509 (2011)
Time zone UTC+2 (EET)
 • Summer (DST) UTC+3 (EEST)
Postal code 271 00
Area code(s) 26930

Araxos (Greek: Άραξος, Latin: Araxus) is a village and a community in the municipal unit of Larissos of the municipality West Achaea in the northwestern part of Achaea, Greece. The community consists of the villages Araxos, Akrotirio Araxos and Taxiarches. It is located in the coastal plains near Cape Araxos, which separates the Gulf of Patras from the Ionian Sea. There are two lagoons near the village Araxos: Prokopos to the southwest and Kalogria (or Pappas or Araxos) to the north[2]. The Mavra Vouna hills are in the north, Cape Araxos being their northernmost point. It is 4 km west of Lakkopetra, 1 km west of Araxos Airport, 5 km north of Metochi and 13 km west of Kato Achaia.

Strofilia wetlands natural park

Near the village of Araxos we find the Strofilia natural park and the famous Kalogria beach. Strofilia is a national park of 22 km² which is part of the Natura 2000[3] network and is protected under the Ramsar Convention. The wetlands ecosystem occupies a coastal zone of about 22 km in length and with an average width of 1500 m[4]. It is a compound coastal ecosystem, that includes the lagoons of Prokopos and Kalogria (or Pappas) the Lamia marshes, as well as the forest of Strofilia (Natura 2000 codes: GR 232001 and GR233006). The Stone pine (Pinus pinea) forest of Strofylia, is the most extensive Stone pine forest in all of Greece and one of the largest in Europe. Most of the area lies in sand-dune formations. [5][6].

Historical population

YearPopulation community
1981595
1991403
2001632
2011509

Araxos Air Base

An auxiliary military airfield was constructed in the area in 1939. Construction of the base began around 1958 and it became operational in 1962. Currently the base is used by 116 Combat Wing of the Hellenic Air Force which consists of 335 Bombing Squadron and 336 Bombing Squadron, both equipped with F-16C/D Block 52+ aircraft. [7] The runway length is 3352 m running in a south to north direction (18/36). The military installations are accessed from Lakkopetra to the north.

From 1978 to 2001 Araxos Air Base was also home of the NATO 345 Air Munitions Company. This unit was responsible for U.S. B61 nuclear bombs intended for delivery by Hellenic Air Force A-7H aircraft under NATO nuclear sharing arrangements. The nuclear weapons were stored in vaults inside the base's Hardened Aircraft Shelters using the WS3 Weapon Storage and Security System.[8]

Araxos Airport

Araxos Airport (IATA: GPA, ICAO: LGRX) is a civilian airport that uses the military base runway. Araxos is the closest airport to the city of Patras. During summer time the airport serves a few civilian charter flights from northern Europe. The civil aviation installations are accessed from the south.[9]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "Απογραφή Πληθυσμού - Κατοικιών 2011. ΜΟΝΙΜΟΣ Πληθυσμός" (in Greek). Hellenic Statistical Authority.
  2. ↑ http://www.visit-achaia.gr/en/suggestions/by-area/seaside-achaia/360-kalogria-strofylia-forest
  3. ↑ http://natura2000.eea.europa.eu/Natura2000/SDF.aspx?site=GR2320001
  4. ↑ []http://strofylianationalpark.gr/national-park-of-kotychi-strofylia-wetlands/general-information-of-the-region/ Official website of the Management Body of Kotychi and Strofylia Wetlands private legal entity
  5. ↑ http://www.wondergreece.gr/v1/en/Regions/Achaea_Prefecture/Nature/Forests
  6. ↑ http://www.visitgreece.gr/en/nature/forests/strofilia_the_pines_extravagance
  7. ↑ HAF 116 Combat Wing
  8. ↑ Hans M. Kristensen (February 2005), U.S. Nuclear Weapons in Europe (PDF), Natural Resources Defense Council, retrieved 2006-05-23
  9. ↑ Araxos Airport (in Greek) Archived June 30, 2011, at the Wayback Machine.
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