Aitoliko

Infobox Greek Dimos
name = Aitoliko
name_local = Αιτωλικό


periph = West Greece
prefec = Aetolia-Acarnania
province =
population = 7216
population_as_of = 2001
population_ref = [http://www.statistics.gr/ source]
pop_dens = 56
area = 129.3
elevation = 1
lat_deg = 38
lat_min = 27
lat_hem = N
lon_deg = 21
lon_min = 22
lon_hem = E
postal_code = 304 00
area_code = 26320
licence = ME
mayor = Nick Galanis
website =


caption_skyline =
city_

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districts =
party =
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Aitoliko (Greek, Modern: Αιτωλικό, Ancient/Katharevousa: -n fr. Greek, Aetolian, alternative forms "Etoliko", "Aitolikon", "Etolikon", "Aetolicon") is a town of about 4,800 and the seat of the municipality of this name in the southern part of Aetolia-Acarnania. It is located north of the Acheloos delta. It is accessed by a road connecting Astakos, Preveza and Lefkada and Mesolonghi along with GR-5/E55 and is bypassed to the north. It is located SW of Agrinion and GR-38, about 20 km NW of Mesolonghi, W of Nafpaktos and the Rion-Antirrhion bridge and SE of Astakos. Until it became a part of Greece, it was known as Anatoliko (Ανατολικό), meaning east.

Historical population

Aitolikon has primary schools, a High School (first three years of secondary education), a Lyceum (the second three-year period of secondary education), several churches, a small post office and a square ("plateia").

The geography has rocky bushy hills to the east and farms along with some grasslands and swamps as far as the Achelous to the west.

Aitolikon also has an agricultural and commercial enterprise named Amalthia S.A., which is named after Amalthea.

The Aitolikon Lagoon is a lagoon located east of Aitolikon surrounding the main municipality and is 14 km² in area.

Aitolikon was conveniently located with relation to the ancient towns of Pleuron (the name of the son of the mythological father Aetolus comes from along with Kalydon which carries the name of another son) and Oiniadai. The name of the town in the middle of the lagoon dates back to ancient times.

The old part of the town lies quite romantically on an island between two lagoons, of which the Aitolikon Lagoon which extends up to Stamna lies to the north, and the Mesolonghi Lagoon which was Lake Kynia in antiquity lies to the south and broadly southward to where it connects with Gulf of Patras and into the Ionian Sea where on October 7, 1571, the Battle of Lepanto took place. The island is connected to the mainland on each side by two bridges. This community has some trees and residential houses and the direct road isn't passed. Tidal forces let strong currents develop regularly going back and forth under the arches of the bridges. The taverns of Aitolikon offer specialities such as smoked or salted Avgotaracho which is famous around the world for its unique taste and quality. Avgotaracho is the egg of the fish "kefalos" and is considered to be a superb speciality, some say superior to caviar. Eels slit open and lightly dried, then grilled on charcoal are another superb local speciality. Try them with raw onion and local dark red wine!!!!

The delta and the lagoons

The Achelous delta to be found west of Mesolonghi is the most extensive delta in Greece. The Mesolonghi lagoon is one of the largest lagoons of the entire Mediterranean sea with its depth of 1.5 m. It is separated from the Gulf of Patras while its sea water is renewed from the Gulf, while the Aitolikon lagoon is a little deeper at 30 m deep.

Of economical importance is the saltworks located to the east next to the old GR-5 (Agrinion - Mesolonghi) about 100 m from the sea with an area of about 500 m² and a width of about 1 km between Aitolikon and Mesolonghi. It has been producing salt for years. Farmlands lie to the east with hills and rocky landscape. Fishing is common in the lagoon. The lagoons are the richest waters in Greece as far as fish are concerned. Here, boats are used. In different places, wooden huts on stilts can be seen. Land development and waste management endanger the entire delta area. A large tract of land is under nature protection and hunting is banned. In this area, 170 species of birds are founded.

It is also home to some parasites including isopods and sand smelts including "Atherina boyeri".

History

Around 900 A.D, the Byzantine fleet from Naupaktos (Lepanto) at the Gulf of Corinth became and capital and became Nikopolis. The new capital became secured by the fortress. One of these fortress were favorably for defense on the island and the lagoons in Aitoliko. Since the 12th century, the island fortress of Anatoliko developed to the city. In 1406, it was sold to Carlo I Tocco of Kefallinia. The Venetian forces divided their incomes from the salt gardens and fish watern of Anatoliko which lasted until 1430.

During the Greek War of Independence against the Ottoman Empire, in the beginning of the 19th century, Aitolikon experienced three Turkish sieges before it became a part of Greece. There were 500 Greeks defenders and 15,000 Turks in the first siege, The second siege was repelled, only in the third siege, Aitolikon was taken at the same time with Mesolonghi on April 11, 1826 by the Turks again. Generals from Greece that participated included Georgios Liakatas.

Persons

*I.M. Panagiotopoulos (born Ioannis Mihail Panagiotopoulos), 1901 - 1982, website: http://www.aitoloakarnania.gr/litterateurs/panagiotopoulos.htm (in Greek)
*Vaso Katraki, Engraver - Painter, 1914 - 1988, website: http://www.aitoloakarnania.gr/index.htm

External links

* [http://hellas.teipir.gr/prefectures/greek/Aitoloakarnanias/Aitoliko.htm Aitoliko] (in Greek)
* [http://www.nationalgeographic.gr/1002/patridognosia.html Aitoliko - National Geographic Ellas] (in Greek)
* [http://www.ornithologiki.gr/en/sppe/en060.htm The Aitoliko and Messolonghi lagoons]
* [http://www.etoliko.gr Internet Aitoliko's forum and discussion board]

ee also

*Communities of Aetolia-Acarnania