Ambracian Gulf
The Ambracian Gulf ( Greek Αμβρακικός κόλπος , Amvrakikós kólpos ) ( Gulf of Ambrakia ) is a gulf of the Ionian Sea in northwestern Greece , between the regions of Epirus and western Greece .
The gulf takes its name from the ancient city of Ambrakia , where the city of Arta is located about 13 km upstream on the Arachthos . Another name is therefore the Gulf of Arta .
geography
The gulf is almost completely enclosed by land and only opened to the sea through a narrow channel to the west. To the north of the canal is a peninsula with the city of Preveza . The gulf extends about 38 km inland in an easterly direction, the largest extent in north-south direction is about 25 km. It encloses a water surface of about 500 km².
Two rivers, Louros and Arachthos , flow from the north into the relatively flat gulf. In their estuary there are larger marshland areas that form an estuary and lagoons . Dams have been built there near the coast today. Koronisia is the only inhabited island in the middle of the gulf .
history
The Ambracian Gulf was the site of various naval battles, including the Battle of Actium in 31 BC. BC, the battle of Olpai 426 BC During the Peloponnesian War , and the 1538 naval battle of Prevesa between an Ottoman and a Christian fleet. The ancient Roman city of Nikopolis was 6 km north of Prevesa .
Infrastructure
Since 2002 there has been a submarine connection between the regions north and south of the Ambracian Gulf through the Preveza-Aktio-Tunnel . This connects the villages of Preveza and Neuaktion directly . A crossing was previously only possible by a ferry connection, which still exists.
literature
- Gustav Hirschfeld : Ἀμβρακικὸς κόλπος . In: Paulys Realencyclopadie der classischen Antiquity Science (RE). Volume I, 2, Stuttgart 1894, Col. 1807 f.
Web links
- Rodia Wetland Center, visitor center on the Ambracian Gulf (English, French, Greek)
- Holocene landscape development around the Ambracian Gulf
Coordinates: 38 ° 58 ′ 21 ″ N , 20 ° 58 ′ 9 ″ E