Thesprotia

Port of Igumenitsa the capital of Thesprotia

Thesprotia

Thesprotia is one of 54 prefectures of Greece,it lies on the northwestern mainland.It is one of the four prefectures of the geographical and administrative region of Epirus. It’s capital is Igumenitsa

In the census of 1981 (before the implementation of the administrative division of Kapodistrias plan), Thesprotia included 4 provinces, 3 municipalities, 99 communes and 171 villages.

Boundaries - Extent

It borders with Albania to the north ,to the east with the prefecture of Ioannina and to the southe to th prefecture of Preveza in the west it borders with the Ionian seea. The total area is 1,515 square kilometers.

Geological

Overall the county is 70% mountainous, semi-mountainous 24.7% and only 5.3 lowland.

Mountains - Rivers

River Kalamas viewed from the
 bridge near Neraida.
The longest river in Epirurs

The terrain of the county is formed mainly by the following 6 mountain ranges and 3 rivers

1. Tsamanta Mountains: located on the border with Albania: with a maximum altitude of 1,896 m which continues south to the Great Ridge.

2. Filiates Mountains, to the southwest of the former with the highest peak 1,064 m east of which lies the Farmakovouni (1240 m)

3. Souli Mountains forming the easternmost of the three parallel mountain ranges located in the southern part of the county with the highest mountain chain (1815 m)

4. Mountains Paramythia, is the southeastern mountains, south of the previous

5. Chionistra Mount (1644 m which is north of the foregoing.

6. Mountains in the southwest Parga extending the former with a maximum altitude of 927 meters in the south continue to Preveza prefecture.

River Kalamas, close to Vrosina

There: are three main rivers flowing through the county Theeprotias

1. The Thyamis, or Kalamas, whose sources are located in the prefecture of Ioannina and flows west towards the ocean,

2. The Acheron whose sources are located in the mountains of Souli its tributaries are Dala andk Kokito.

3.The Xanthos continues north in Albanian territory.

Plains - lakes

The most important planes are on the estuary Thyamis joined with the wider plain of Igoumenitsa forming total a area of ​​60 sq. km. There are two smaller and west of the mountains and the area Paramythias Margaritiou.

In the center of the county there are some small lakes.

Fisher boat in Sagiada

Climate

The climate of Thesprotia is generally Mediterranean close to coastline, and gradually it becomes more continental

Population

Thesprotia is one of the most sparsely populated prefectures of Greece. In 1981 the total population amounted to 41,278 inhabitants. In the 2001 census numbered 46,091 inhabitants. As for the distribution of the population, about 28.5% are suburban and the rest lives in rural areas 71.2%. Urban population is not observed. In geographical distribution 8.3% is lowland, 48% semi-mountainous and mountainous remaining 43.7%.

From an economic perspective, from a total population of 1981 (41.278), approximately 14,500 are of working age. Of these, 10,000 were allegedly employed to a rural economy, about 2,500 in industry and crafts and the rest 2,000 in transport and services (public - private). Due to migration observed, current workforce includes many older people.

Hiker trail,next to acheron river

Administrative division

Thesprotia included three municipalities, 84 communities divided into four provinces:

Thyamis Province, NW. section that included the municipality Igoumenitsa and 16 communities.

Province Margaritiou, SW. section, which included 8 communities.

Souli province, SE. section, which included the township Paramythia and 30 villages, and

Filiaton Province, NE. section, which included the homonymous municipality and also 30 communities.