Ano Diakopto

Ano Diakopto or Ano Diakofto (Greek:, Modern: Άνω Διακοπτό meaning Upper Diakopto, Ancient/Katharevousa: -ον "-on"), older form: -on, also with the second a accented is a Greek village located about west of Corinth and Athens, north-northwest of Kalavryta and east of Aigio and Patras. The GR-9 (Patras - Pyrgos - Kyparissia is around the area. Keryneia had a 2001 population of was 344 for the village and 373 or the municipal district. Ano Diakopto is also in the municipality of Diakopto. Its older name used to be known as Pera Machalas or Pera Mahalas (Πέρα Μαχαλάς).

ubdivision

*Pounta

Population

History

Ano Diakopto was ruled by the Ottomans for 370 years from the mid-15th century with the exceptions in the mid to late-15th century and much of the mid to late-16th century by the Venetians. Finally, the area became a part of Greece after the Greek War of Independence of 1821 and was liberated after the declaration of independence. Diakopto enjoyed its improvement in agricultural economy after the end of the Turkish rule.

After World War II and the Greek Civil War, much of the population left for larger towns and cities especially the nearby Patras. The population grew since the early late-20th century.

Houses were stone-built until the 1950s and did not surpass modern-style homes until the 1980s. It was linked with pavement in the 1980s. Most of the homes are abandoned today.

Recently, Ano Diakopto on Wednesday July 24, 2007 was ravaged by a tremendous fire that destroyed the area of Ano Diakopto, its pine, Greek Fir and cypress trees were burnt and firefighters, helicopters and planes battled against the fire. Crops were also damaged including olive groves and grapevines.

Information

The village is built on the slopes of Chelmos with a beautiful scenery of its pine forest.

Ano Diakopto has approximately 5 to 6 km of paved road and 10 km of gravel roads. Aravonitsa also has approximately 6 to 8 km of hydro lines as well as phone lines.

Economy

Its main production are fruits including watermelon, melon, figs and vegetables including corn, tomatoes, potatoes, onions, cucumbers and others as well as dairy, livestock, olives and others. The majority of the population are based in other businesses as well as agriculture with some other industries.

Other

Ano Diakopto has a school, a church, and a square ("plateia"). Its nearest lyceum (middle school), a nearest school gymnasium (secondary school) are in Diakopto, its nearest hospital is the Agios Andreas Hospital in eastcentral Patras.

External links

* [http://www.gtp.gr/LocPage.asp?id=3267 Ano Diakopto GTP Travel Pages]
*Map and aerial photos:
**Street map information from: [http://www.mapquest.com/maps/map.adp?latlongtype=decimal&latitude=38.133&longitude=22.217&zoom=6 Mapquest] , [http://local.live.com/map.aspx?&lats1=38.133&longs=22.217&alts1=35 LiveLocal] or [http://maps.google.com/maps?||=38.133,22.217 Google] or [http://maps.yahoo.com/maps_result?lat=38.133&lon=22.217&mag=2 Yahoo! Maps]
**Satellite
http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=37.133,22.217&spn=0.11,0.18&t=k Google] or [http://virtualearth.msn.com/default.aspx?cp=38.133|22.217&5style=h&lvl=15&v=1 Microsoft Virtual Earth] - image now available
*Coordinates: coord|38|8|4|N|22|13|34|E|type:city(344)_region:GR

ee also

*List of settlements in the Achaea prefecture