Magnesia
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
- This article is about the region of Greece. For other meanings, see Magnesia (disambiguation)
| Magnesia Prefecture Νομός Μαγνησίας |
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| Periphery | Thessaly |
| Capital | Volos |
| Population | 210,330 (2005)Ranked 10th |
| Area | 2,636 km² Ranked 21st |
| Population density | 79.8/km²Ranked 12th |
| Number of provinces | 3 |
| Number of municipalities | 22 |
| Number of communities | 4 |
| Postal codes | 37x xx - 38x xx |
| Area codes | 242x0 |
| Licence plate code | ΒΟ |
| ISO 3166-2 code | GR-43 |
| Website | www.magnesia.gr |
Magnesia (Greek: Μαγνησία Magnisia; see also List of traditional Greek place names), deriving from the Macedonian tribe name Magnetes, is the name of the southeastern area of Thessaly in central Greece. The modern prefecture was created in 1947 out of the Larissa prefecture. About 70% of the population live in the Greater Volos area which is the second-largest city in Thessaly and the third busiest commercial port in Greece. Much of the population lives near the Pagasetic Gulf and in the eastern part.
According to Hesiod's (probably) "Eoiae" (Greek : Ηοίαι) or "Catalogue of Women"[1] on the origin of the Greeks, Pandora (named after her grandmother Pandora, sister of Hellen and daughter of Deukalion and Pyrrha) together with Zeus had one sons Graecus, while Zeus had two more with Thyia, another of Deukalion's daughter: Magnes and Macedon who together with Hellen's three sons Dorus, Xuthus (with his sons Ion and Achaeus) and Aeolos, comprised the set of progenitors of the ancient tribes that formed the Greek/Hellenic nation, with Magnes ruling the area and people under his name. Magnesia is also homeland of the mythical heroes Jason, Peleus and his son Achilles. The word magnet comes from the Greek "magnítis líthos" (μαγνήτης λίθος), which means "magnesian stone". The names for the elements magnesium and manganese are also derived from this region, which in addition to the magnetic magnetite (an iron ore), produces certain ores of magnesium and manganese that were known to alchemists. The Magnetes contributed to the Greek colonization, with their main colonies being established before the 7th BC, under the names of Magnesia beside Sipylus in Lydia and Magnesia on the Maeander in Ionia.
The modern Magnesian capital is the city of Volos, and the homonymous prefecture includes the Almyros plain, Nea Anchialos archaeological excavations, the Pagasetic Gulf, the Mount Pelion peninsula and the Sporades islands.
The prefecture was flooded on October 10, 2006, one of the prefecture's worst recorded floods. The flood devastated crops and groves and nearly 100,000 homes. The city of Volos was flooded. A railroad bridge connecting Volos and Larissa collapsed when the central stone support was ruined by a combination of rocks, mud and debris carried by a swollen river. Several mudslides were reported.
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It is bounded by Phthiotis region in the southwest, the Larissa in the west and north and the Aegean Sea in the east. The lagoon of Lake Voiviis or Karla is to the north and is surrounded with farmlands to the west and mountains to the east. It is one of the prefectures that is bounded with only two prefectures.
| Municipality | YPES code | Seat (if different) | Postal code | Area code |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Afetes | 3708 | Neochori | 370 10 | 24230- |
| Agria | 3701 | 373 00 | 24280- | |
| Aisonia | 3702 | Dimini | 385 00 | 24210 |
| Almyros | 3703 | 371 00 | 24220- | |
| Alonnisos | 3704 | 370 05 | 24240- | |
| Argalasti | 3706 | 370 06 | 24230- | |
| Artemida | 3707 | Ano Lechonia | 385 00 | 24280- |
| Feres | 3726 | Velestino | 375 00 | 24250- |
| Iolkos | 3711 | 385 00 | 24210- | |
| Karla | 3712 | Stefanovikeio | 375 00 | 24250- |
| Milies | 3715 | 370 10 | 24230- | |
| Mouresi | 3716 | Tsagkarada | 370 12 | 24260- |
| Nea Anchialos | 3717 | 374 00 | 24280- | |
| Nea Ionia | 3718 | 383 & 384 | 24210 | |
| Portaria | 3719 | 370 11 | 24280- | |
| Pteleos | 3720 | 370 07 | 24220- | |
| Sipiada | 3721 | Lafkos | 370 06 | 24230- |
| Skiathos | 3722 | 370 03 | 24240- | |
| Skopelos | 3723 | 370 03 | 24240- | |
| Sourpi | 3724 | 370 08 | 24220- | |
| Volos | 3709 | 380-382 | 24210 | |
| Zagora | 3710 | 370 01 | 24260- | |
| Community | YPES code | Seat (if different) | Postal code | Area code |
| Anavra | 3705 | 350 10 | 22320-9 | |
| Keramidi | 3713 | 385 00 | 24280-7 | |
| Makrinitsa | 3714 | 370 11 | 24280-99 | |
| Trikeri | 3725 | 370 09 | 24230-91 |
See also: List of settlements in the Magnesia prefecture
- Greek National Road 1/E75, SW, W, NW
- Greek National Road 6, Cen., NW
- Greek National Road 30, W, Cen.
The first paved roads appeared in the 20th century as part of the program to have all city streets paved. The prefecture was to be linked with the railway in the late-19th century. In 1964, the GR-1 superhighway was opened to traffic and also additional roads were to be paved. The secondary ones were paved in the 1960s and the tertiary ones were paved in the late-20th century.
- Vangelis Papathanassiou, a music composer
- Lavrentis Dianellos, a Greek actor
- Laodamia Hotel
- Protessilaos Hotel
- ^ Hesiod (probably), "Eoiae" (Greek : Ηοίαι) or "Catalogue of Women", c.650 BC.
- Hesiod (probably), "Eoiae" or "Catalogue of Women", c.650 BC.
- Pelion Accommodation Apartments Studios
- Pelion pages, in Skopelos.net
- Homepage of Nea Anchialos Tourist Guide
- Homepage of the Magnesia prefecture
- Hotels guide of Magnesia
- Volos Cultural portal
- Another page of the Magnesia prefecture
- History of Magnesia
- History of Magnesia
- Hotels Association Of Magnesia
- Information Guide for Magnesia and Pelion
| Europe | Greece | Thessaly | |
| Karditsa | Larissa | Magnesia | Trikala | |
