Gorgopotamos

Gorgopotamos parish
Δημοτική Ενότητα Γοργοποτάμου
(Γοργοπόταμος)

Basic data

State :

Greece

Region :

Lamia

Geographic coordinates :

38 ° 50 ′ N , 22 ° 24 ′ E Coordinates: 38 ° 50 ′ N , 22 ° 24 ′ E

Height above d. M .:

10 - 121 - 840 m
Moschochori-Mittel-Koumaritsi

Area :

157.300 km²

Residents :

3,374 (2011)

Population density :

21.4 inhabitants / km²

Code No .:

270102

Structure:

11 local communities

Website:

www.ypati.gr

Located in the municipality of Lamia and in the regional unit of Fthiotida

Gorgopotamos ( Greek Γοργοπόταμος ( m. Sg. )) Is a village in Fthiotida , central Greece near the city of Lamia . It is known for the railway bridge that was blown up by partisans in 1942 , which became a symbol of the Greek resistance.

geography

location

Gorgopotamos is only a few kilometers south of Lamia.

The municipality was named after the river of the same name that flows through the municipality, as well as the famous railway bridge that crosses it. The river Gorgopotamos (from gorgos = fast and potamos = river) has its source on Mount Oite (Οίτη) at an altitude of 2180 m. Through ravines and a rocky bed, it plunges into the valley with plenty of water. It flows into the Sperchios . Other streams and small lakes shape the area and its flora.

structure

Local communities in today's Gorgopotamos district are the communities that were independent until 1997

Damasta
Delfino
Dyo Vouna
Eleftherochori
Gorgopotamos
Iraklia (the ancient city of Trachina)
Iti
Koumaritsi
Moschochori
Neon Krikelo
Vardates

history

Local history

Under the name Alpospita (Gr. Αλπόσπητα ( n. Pl. )) The place was recognized as a rural community (kinotita) in 1912 , and in 1940 it was renamed Aleposita (Αλεπόσπιτα), and in 1985 it was finally renamed Gorgopotamos. In 1997, together with some incorporations, the survey of the township (dimos) took place. On January 1st, this community was incorporated into Lamia , where it has been a district ever since.

The railway bridge was blown up

The railway bridge over the Gorgopotamos (in the foreground one of the "makeshift pillars")

The demolition of the railway bridge at Gorgopotamos in 1942 is considered an event of national historical importance; it is mentioned in history books to this day. The railway bridge is located in the course of the Piraeus – Thessaloniki railway line , which was a main supply line of the German armed forces for the Africa campaign . On November 25, 1942, 150 partisans of the left-wing Greek Liberation Army ELAS under the leadership of Athanasios Klaras, who became known under the code name Aris Velouchiotis , and another 60 partisans of the republican EDES under Napoleon Zervas overpowered the guard of the bridge and thus enabled an English sabotage. Command under Captain Woodhouse to install and detonate explosives ("Harling" mission). This destroyed two of the six pillars. Even today the two southern pillars have been replaced by a makeshift construction. The railway line was interrupted for 45 days by the demolition .

The demolition of the bridge was also a signal for the massive Greek resistance against the German occupation. The main force of the partisan army, the ELAS under Aris Velouchiotis, had more than 120,000 men at times and inflicted considerable losses on the occupiers.

Administration and politics

In the parliamentary elections of 2007 , the Nea Dimokratia achieved 56.9% (2004: 57.5%), the social democratic PASOK 33.3% (2004: 37.7%), the right-wing LAOS 3.2% (2004: 1, 3%), the communist KKE 2.9% (2004: 2.2%), the left-wing SYRIZA 2%.

Attractions

Monasteries

Monastery of the Nativity of the Mother of God (Γενέθλιον της Θεοτόκου) at 581 m above sea level near Damasta on the northern slopes of Mount Kallidromo. The monastery made a major contribution to the uprising of 1821. The nave dates from the 11th century, frescoes from 1818.
Gorgoipikoou Monastery
Monastery of the Transfiguration of Christ (Μεταμόρφωσης Σωτήρος) near Gorgopotamos, built on the ruins of a once large and important monastery.
Panagias Proussis Monastery (Παναγία η Βαρδάτα Προθσσιώτισσα), located on a rock in Vardates

Excursion destinations

A memorial on the bridge is dedicated to the fighters who were shot six days after the attack in 1942.
At a height of 800 m above Gorgopotamos near the place Kangelogefirou there are several stone bridges and waterfalls, which are an attractive destination. A power generation and chemical company worked here from 1907 to 1945. The water power captured by dams, canals and pipes was used to generate electricity; with this acetylene was produced, which at that time played an important role in lighting.
On the slope of Mount Kallidromo above the picturesque village of Eleftherochori, at an altitude of 850 meters, there is a small lake surrounded by a fir forest with hiking trails and an unlimited view of the surrounding mountains and the Maliac Gulf .
Iti - Pavliani nature reserve on the slopes of the Iti with fir forests, churches and the castle of Iraklia, with the Agria Zoi refuge on the Iti mountain, the Asopos and Vathirema gorges. On Mount Iti, the bridges of Papadia (the largest mountain bridge in Greece) and over the Asopos are particularly important.
The healing springs of Psoroneri are also located near Damasta.
The endemic fish species "Ellinopygosteos" ( Greek nine-spined stickleback , pungitius hellenicus) is native to the standing and flowing waters of the Gorgopotamos .

Web links

Individual evidence

↑ National Statistical Service of Greece (EYSE): Census of March 18, 2001. Table 3. Population, area, population density and division into urban and rural as well as flat, semi-mountainous and mountainous areas. Average altitude. ( Memento from September 29, 2007 in the Internet Archive )
↑ Results of the 2011 census at the National Statistical Service of Greece (ΕΣΥΕ) ( Memento from June 27, 2015 in the Internet Archive ) (Excel document, 2.6 MB)

[EYSE-VZ2001-TAB3-1] National Statistical Service of Greece (EYSE): Census of March 18, 2001. Table 3. Population, area, population density and division into urban and rural as well as flat, semi-mountainous and mountainous areas. Average altitude. ( Memento from September 29, 2007 in the Internet Archive )

[VZ2011-2] Results of the 2011 census at the National Statistical Service of Greece (ΕΣΥΕ) ( Memento from June 27, 2015 in the Internet Archive ) (Excel document, 2.6 MB)