| Karpenisi Καρπενήσι | |
|---|---|
|  Part of the town | |
|   Karpenisi Location within the region  | |
| Coordinates: 38°55′N 21°47′E / 38.917°N 21.783°E | |
| Country | Greece | 
| Administrative region | Central Greece | 
| Regional unit | Evrytania | 
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Christos Kakavas[1] | 
| Area | |
| • Municipality | 948.6 km2 (366.3 sq mi) | 
| • Municipal unit | 250.9 km2 (96.9 sq mi) | 
| Elevation | 960 m (3,150 ft) | 
| Population  (2011)[2] | |
| • Municipality | 13,105 | 
| • Municipality density | 14/km2 (36/sq mi) | 
| • Municipal unit | 8,575 | 
| • Municipal unit density | 34/km2 (89/sq mi) | 
| Community | |
| • Population | 7,348 (2011) | 
| Time zone | UTC+2 (EET) | 
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+3 (EEST) | 
| Postal code | 361 00 | 
| Area code(s) | 22370 | 
| Vehicle registration | ΚΗ | 
| Website | www.karpenissi.gr | 
Karpenisi (Greek: Καρπενήσι, Greek pronunciation: [karpeˈnisi]) is a town in central Greece. It is the capital of the regional unit of Evrytania. Karpenisi is situated in the valley of the river Karpenisiotis (Καρπενησιώτης), a tributary of the Megdovas, in the southern part of the Pindus Mountains. Mount Tymfristos (2,315 m elevation) lies directly to the north of the town, and the foothills of mount Kaliakouda are in the south. Karpenisi has a ski resort and is a popular destination, especially during winter. It is called Switzerland of Greece for the resemblance with the mountainous country and its beauty, atypical for a Mediterranean place.[3]
Etymology
The name Karpenisi derives from the Aromanian word kárpinu[4] 'hornbeam' + the ending -iş. The Greek spelling Καρπενήσι is influenced by folk etymology, the second combining form appearing to be νησί 'island' (pronounced [niˈsi]). The first mention of the name is traced back to an Ottoman tax ledger of 1454–1455.[5]
Municipality


The municipality Karpenisi was formed at the 2011 local government reform by the merger of the following 6 former municipalities, that became municipal units:[6]
- Domnista (Ampliani, Domnista, Krikello, Mesokomi, Psiana, Roska, Stavloi)
- Fourna (Fourna, Kleisto, Vracha)
- Karpenisi (Agia Vlacherna, Agios Andreas, Agios Nikolaos, Fidakia, Kalesmeno, Karpenisi, Koryschades, Myriki, Papparousi, Pavlopoulo, Sella, Stefani, Stenoma, Voutyro)
- Ktimenia (Agia Triada, Agios Charalampos, Chochlia, Domianoi, Petralona)
- Potamia (Aniada, Chelidonas, Dermati, Karitsa, Klafsi, Megalo Chorio, Mikro Chorio, Mouzilo, Nostimo, Sygkrellos)
- Prousos (Alestia, Aspropyrgos, Esochoria, Kastania, Katavothra, Prodromos, Prousos, Sarkini, Stavrochori, Tornos, Velota)
The municipality has an area of 948.570 km2, the municipal unit 250.887 km2.[7]
Mayor of Karpenisi
- Kostas Bakoyannis, 2011–2014
- Nikos Souliotis, 2014–2023
- Christos Kakavas, since 2024
History
Karpenisi has a lot of history in the region. In antiquity, Karpenisi was known as Oechalia and ruled by king Evrytos, inventor of the bow.[8]
During the Greek Revolution of 1821, the towns mountainous location was of strategic importance for central Roumeli.[8] During more recent times, the region took part in WWI and WWII, becoming the place where the armed National Resistance was initiated.[8]
Climate
Due to its altitude, Karpenisi has a temperate climate (Köppen: C), with abundant rainfall year round and much cooler temperatures. Snowfall is frequent and heavy in winter, whereas summers are pleasantly warm with cool nights.
| Climate data for Karpenisi town weather station (998m) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year | 
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 6 (43) | 8.9 (48.0) | 12.1 (53.8) | 14.4 (57.9) | 20.3 (68.5) | 24.5 (76.1) | 27.4 (81.3) | 28.5 (83.3) | 24.2 (75.6) | 19.9 (67.8) | 13 (55) | 10.5 (50.9) | 17.5 (63.4) | 
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | −1.7 (28.9) | 0.2 (32.4) | 2.2 (36.0) | 4.4 (39.9) | 8.5 (47.3) | 12.7 (54.9) | 15.5 (59.9) | 16.4 (61.5) | 13.3 (55.9) | 9 (48) | 5.5 (41.9) | 2 (36) | 7.3 (45.2) | 
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 164.7 (6.48) | 108.7 (4.28) | 107.5 (4.23) | 101.2 (3.98) | 58.5 (2.30) | 54.8 (2.16) | 62.2 (2.45) | 39.7 (1.56) | 171.6 (6.76) | 76.7 (3.02) | 145 (5.7) | 179.7 (7.07) | 1,270.3 (49.99) | 
| Source: http://penteli.meteo.gr/stations/karpenisitown/ (2019 - 2020 averages) | |||||||||||||
Historical population
| Year | Municipal unit | Municipality | 
|---|---|---|
| 1981 | 5,230 | – | 
| 1991 | 8,185 | – | 
| 2001 | 9,390 | – | 
| 2011 | 8,575 | 13,105 | 
Sister cities
 Asheville, United States[9] Asheville, United States[9]
 Messolonghi, Greece[10] Messolonghi, Greece[10]
 Engomi, Cyprus[11] Engomi, Cyprus[11]
Notable people
- Zacharias Papantoniou (1877–1940), writer
- Ioannis Theodoropoulos, bronze medal in the pole vault 1896 Summer Olympics
- Georgios Kondylis (1878–1936), General of the Greek army and Prime Minister of Greece
- Charalambos Katsimitros (1886–1962), General of the Greek army who distinguished himself during the Greco-Italian War
- Pavlos Bakoyannis (1935–1989), Greek politician and journalist
Notable events
- Battle of Karpenisi (8 August 1823) during the Greek War of Independence
References
- ↑ "Municipality of Karpenissi: Municipal elections – October 2023". ekloges.ypes.gr. 9 October 2023.
- 1 2 "Απογραφή Πληθυσμού - Κατοικιών 2011. ΜΟΝΙΜΟΣ Πληθυσμός" (in Greek). Hellenic Statistical Authority.
- ↑ Dana Facaros; Linda Theodorou (2003). Greece. New Holland Publishers. p. 382. ISBN 978-1-86011-898-2.
- ↑ Oikonomou Konstantinos, Zagori toponym, Doctoral thesis, Ioannina 1986, pp. 752–753.
- ↑ Beldiceanu, Nicoară; Vasiliu Năsturel, Petre Ștefan (1991). "Η Θεσσαλία στην περίοδο 1454/55–1506". ΘΕΣΣΑΛΙΚΟ ΗΜΕΡΟΛΟΓΙΟ (in Greek). 19: 105–106.
- ↑ "ΦΕΚ B 1292/2010, Kallikratis reform municipalities" (in Greek). Government Gazette.
- ↑ "Population & housing census 2001 (incl. area and average elevation)" (PDF) (in Greek). National Statistical Service of Greece. Archived from the original (PDF) on 21 September 2015.
- 1 2 3 "History - municipality of Karpenisi". Karpenisi. Retrieved 7 March 2022.
- ↑ "Karpenisi, Greece". Archived from the original on 25 July 2011. Retrieved 7 October 2010.
- ↑ "Σε μια συγκινητική τελετή στην πλατεία Μάρκου Μπότσαρη αδελφοποιήθηκαν οι Δήμοι Ι.Π. Μεσολογγίου και Καρπενησίου". 8 August 2022.
- ↑ "Διδυμοποιήσεις".
External links
- GTP Travel Pages (Municipality) (in English and Greek)
- Tourist Guide of Karpenisi

