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West Macedonia Periphery Περιφέρεια Δυτικής Μακεδονίας
Country:	Greece
Capital:	Kozani
Prefectures:	Florina Grevena Kastoria Kozani
Population:	303,857 (2005)
Area:	9,451 km² (3,649 sq.mi.)
Density:	32 /km² (83 /sq.mi.)
Website:	www.westernmacedonia.gr

West Macedonia is one of the thirteen peripheries of Greece, consisting of the western part of Greek Macedonia. It is divided into the prefectures of Florina, Grevena, Kastoria, and Kozani.

Contents 1 Geography 2 Prefectures and Municipalities 3 Economy 4 Education 5 Media 5.1 Television channels 6 Gallery 7 References 8 External links

The periphery of Western Macedonia is situated in the North-West, bordering with the peripheries of Central Macedonia (East), Thessaly (South), Epirus (West), as well as with the regions of Bitola (Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia) and Korçë (Albania) to the North.

Although it covers a total surface of 9.451 km² (7,2% of country’s total), it has a total population of 302.892 inhabitants (2,9% of the country’s total), thus it is a low-density populated Region (32 inh. per km², as compared to the country’s 79,7 relevant figure). This is mainly due to the mountainous nature of the Region, as 82% of the total surface are mountainous and semi-mountainous areas. This is also reflected in the population distribution, as the major part of the population (56%) lives in rural areas.Capital of the periphery is Kozani with 47,451 inhabitants.Other main towns are Ptolemaida (32,775 inh.), Grevena (16,704 inh.), Florina (14,318 inh.) and Kastoria (13,959 inh.).

Biggest towns in each prefecture, according to the census of 2001 (only towns with population more than 1,000 recorded):

	Prefecture	Capital	Area (km²)	Population
	Grevena	Grevena	2,291	32,567
1	Grevena			16,421
2	Deskati			4,931
3	Irakleotes			2,418
4	Ventzio			2,364
5	Chasia			2,114
6	Theodoros Ziakas			1,723
7	Kosmas o Aitolos			1,243
8	Gorgiani			1,049
	Kastoria	Kastoria	1,720	53,584
1	Kastoria			17,038
2	Orestida			10,146
3	Agia Triada			6,199
4	Mesopotamia			4,100
5	Makednos			3,398
6	Ion Dragoumis			3,333
7	Agioi Anargyroi			2,690
8	Nestorio			1,533
9	Vitsi			1,436
10	Akrites			1,013
	Kozani	Kozani	3,516	153,959
1	Kozani			49,812
2	Ptolemaida			36,393
3	Servia			9,512
4	Ellispontos			7,481
5	Siatista			6,589
6	Elimeia			6,320
7	Neapoli			4,745
8	Mouriki			4,744
9	Askio			4,530
10	Tsotyli			3,780
11	Aiani			3,746
12	Velventos			3,549
13	Vermio			3,303
14	Dimitrios Ypsilantis			2,861
15	Kamvounia			2,076
16	Livadero			1,597
17	Agia Paraskevi			1,595
	Florina	Florina	1,924	54,109
1	Florina			17,500
2	Amyntaio			8,468
3	Meliti			6,909
4	Perasma			5,392
5	Filotas			4,442
6	Kato Kleines			3,787
7	Aetos			3,394
8	Prespes			1,781
9	Lechovo			1,183
Total	West Macedonia	Kozani	9,451	303,857 [1]

The Region has one operational Industrial Area in Florina and another one under construction in Kozani. The secondary sector is very important for the Regional economy, mainly due to the mining activities, the production of electric power (70% of country’s total power is produced in the Region) and the fur-leather sector . However, “soft” structures have not followed the general improvement of heavy infrastructures, a situation that has to be remedied, in order to achieve an overall higher economic development of the Region. The R&D services are at a rather low level: only 3,5% of the country’s total research foundations are situated in the Region. Among them, the Technological Educational Institute plays an important role in supporting the regional research and educational efforts. However, an enhanced interaction with SME’s will be a crucial factor, in order to improve the productivity and the added value of products and services generated in the Region of Western Macedonia. Some of its more famous products are marbles, Saffron (krokos Kozanis), fruits, local wines (Kozani, Amyntaio), furs (Kastoria, Siatista) and specialized arts and crafts industry.

The Egnatia motorway via Egnatia (Trans – European Network) that crosses the Region, along with its two vertical National Roads, form a network that dramatically improves the transport conditions in the Region and alter its traditional “isolation” image, mainly due to its mountainous landscape. On the other hand, the railroad network is insufficient and the two airports (Kozani and Kastoria) can only serve small passenger planes. The telecommunication network has drastically improved over the last decade, providing the regional population with adequate services and modern facilities.

The last years the region is being developed in turism mainly on winter. It is the only Greek periphery without sea coast, but on the other side there are a lot of lakes, mountains, graphic villages and two big ski centers in Florina (Vigla) and Grevena (Vasilitsa) and one other under construction in Kozani (Velvendos).

The building of West Macedonia Periphery is located in Zone of Alternate Urban Planning (ZEP) in the city of Kozani.

The university of West Macedonia and the technological faculties help in the intellectual growth of region. There is a big number of students who's studying main in the Pedagogic Department and in Department of Balkan study of the University in Florina and in the Department of Energy Management of the University and in Technological Educational Institute of West Macedonia in Kozani.

• West channel - Kozani
• TOP channel - Kozani
• Kanali 28 - Grevena
• TRM - Grevena
• Flash TV - Kastoria
• Dyktio - kastoria

Kozani	Florina	Kastoria	Ptolemaida
Kastoria - The lake Orestiada	Ancient Macedonian Grave in Eordaia	Aghios Nikolaos Clock Tower in Kozani	Kozani - The Folklore and Natural History Museum
Vigla - Pissoderi ski resort in Florina	Egnatia Motorway in West Macedonia	Vasilitsa ski resort in Grevena	Another view of Kastoria
The plain and the town of Florina

• West Macedonia Homepage

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