Nikoleika

Nikoleika Νικολαίικα
Location
Nikoleika
Coordinates	38°12′N 22°8′E / 38.2°N 22.133°E / 38.2; 22.133Coordinates: 38°12′N 22°8′E / 38.2°N 22.133°E / 38.2; 22.133
Government
Country:	Greece
Region:	West Greece
Regional unit:	Achaea
Municipality:	Aigialeia
Municipal unit:	Diakopto
Population statistics (as of 2001)
Village
- Population:	411
Other
Time zone:	EET/EEST (UTC+2/3)

Nikoleika or Nikolaiika (Greek: Νικολαίικα) is a Greek village located east of Aigio, west of Corinth, west Athens, north-northwest of Kalavryta and about 52 east of Patras. The GR-9 (Patras - Pyrgos - Kyparissia is about 6 km to the south. Nikoleika had a 2001 population of was 458 for the village. Nikoleika is in the municipal unit of Diakopto.

Nearest places

• Diakopto, southeast

Population

Year	Population
1981	453
1991	458
2001	429

Geography

Its geography are mare up of farmlands that dominate the valley areas and are mainly consists of groves, the mountains that are mainly made up of forests and grasslands especially bushes are around the area. Farmlands are around the area, the forest lies to the southeast. The Selinountas River is to the west and there it empties into the Gulf of Corinth.

Nikoleika is famous for having its beach, it also has several restaurants, taverns and hotels.

History

The village was ruled by the Ottoman Turks with some interruption by the Venetians in the mid to late-15th century and the mid to late-16th century. Nikoleika was finally Greek after the Greek War of Independence of 1821, right after the signing of the declaration of independence.

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 declined since 1981.

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.

Nikoleika was battered by a forest fire that began on Wednesday July 25 and ended on July 29 and brought catastrophic fire to the area, flames were bursting as high as 30 m and smoke as high as 600 to 700 m. About 20 to 30% of the village wer burnt with some of their properties burnt. One fire was on a mountain slope that created a smoke enough to cover the area and darken the area tan-brown. Tens of fire trucks, helicopters and planes along with firefighters battled the fire in order to end. Several farms and crops were ruined. Some roads were shut down. The fire started in the afternoon hours and expanded to almost to burn about 80 to 90% of the area of Nikoleika. Residents were panicked on this wildfire. Hundreds to thousands of cattle were lost and about ten thousands trees were burnt down that created an economic and agricultural disaster that may take a couple of years to rebuilt. The flames were stopped by firefighters and headed for other villages in central and southern Aigialeia and finally ended.

Information

Nikoleika also has a football (soccer) club named Niki.

Economy

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

External links

• Nikoleika GTP Travel Pages
• Nikoleika in www.ediakopto.gr

See also

• List of settlements in the Achaea prefecture

References