Aridaia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Aridaia
Αριδαία
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View of the central square of Aridaia with Aggelis Gatsos' statue.
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 Aridaia
Location in Greece
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| Country | Greece |
| Geographic region | Macedonia |
| Administrative region | Central Macedonia |
| Regional unit | Pella |
| Municipality | Almopia |
| Districts | 17 |
| • Municipal unit | 562.91 km2 (217.34 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 127 m (417 ft) |
| Population
(2021)
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| • Municipal unit | 18,864 |
| • Municipal unit density | 33.5116/km2 (86.7946/sq mi) |
| Community | |
| • Population | 7,118 (2021) |
| Time zone | UTC+2 (EET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+3 (EEST) |
| Postal code |
584 00
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| Area code(s) | 23840-2 |
| Vehicle registration | ΕΕ |
| Website | dimosalmopias.gov.gr |
Aridaia is a town in Greece. It's located in the Pella area, which is part of Central Macedonia. Aridaia used to be its own local government area, but now it's part of the larger Almopia municipality. It's also the main town of the Almopia region.
This town is in the northwest part of Pella. It's close to the border with North Macedonia and the Florina area of Greece. The whole area of Aridaia is about 563 square kilometers. In 2021, about 7,118 people lived in Aridaia town itself. The wider municipal area has about 18,864 people.
The municipal area is split into 17 smaller communities. Some of the bigger ones are Promachoi, Loutraki, and Sosandra. The community of Aridaia also includes a small village called Ydraia. Greek soldiers entered Aridaia in 1912 during the First Balkan War. The town really started to grow after Greek refugees from Asia Minor settled there.
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What Does the Name Aridaia Mean?
The name Aridaia might have two different meanings. One idea is that it comes from an older name, "Ardea." This name might be linked to the Greek word "Ardevo," which means "to irrigate." This makes sense because the area has many rivers and streams.
Another idea is that the name Aridaia comes from Philip III Arrhidaeus. He was the half-brother of Alexander the Great. So, the town's name could be very old and connected to ancient Greek history!
Cool Places to See in Aridaia
Aridaia has some interesting places to visit. You can explore history and enjoy nature here.
Chrysi Castle
About 7 kilometers from Aridaia, you can find the Byzantine Castle of Chrysi. This old castle dates all the way back to the 8th century AD. It's a cool place to imagine what life was like long ago.
Saint Hilarion Monastery
North of Aridaia, there's a historic monastery called the Holy Monastery of Saint Hilarion. Saint Hilarion was an important church leader in the 12th century. He lived and worked in the Almopia area. This monastery is a peaceful and historic spot.
Pozar Thermal Baths
About 10 kilometers from Aridaia, you'll find the Pozar Baths. This place has amazing natural beauty and warm, healing waters. It's a popular spot for tourists. You can relax in the thermal baths and enjoy the beautiful surroundings.
The Pozar Baths area has many facilities for visitors. It's also close to the Kaimaktsalan Ski Center. This means you can visit the baths and then go skiing in the winter! The tourist village of Loutraki is near the baths. Another village, Orma, is where the road to the Ski Center begins.
Sports in Aridaia
Aridaia has a well-known football team. They are called Almopos Arideas.
Getting Around Aridaia
It's easy to travel to and from Aridaia using different types of transport.
Bus Services
The main bus station in Aridaia is on Passia Street. It's on the road that leads to Exaplatanos and Notia. The local bus service, KTEL of Pella, connects Aridaia with Edessa regularly. There are also bus routes to bigger cities like Athens, Skydra, and Thessaloniki.
Train Services
Aridaia itself does not have a train station right now. You can use the train stations in Edessa and Skydra to travel by rail. However, there used to be a train line here! From 1916 to 1936, a railway connected Skydra to Aridaia and Orma. This old railway station now houses the Museum of Natural History. There are plans to build a new railway line in the future, but it's not clear when it will be finished.
Roads
No major national highways pass directly through Aridaia. However, there are five important local roads that connect Aridaia to nearby towns and villages. These roads help people travel easily around the area.
- Edessa - Apsalos - Aridaia.
- Aridaia - Exaplatanos (leading to Skra and Axioupoli, Evropos, Notia and Lagadia).
- Aridaia - Pozar Baths.
- Aridaia - Tsakona - Polykarpi.
- Aridaia - Sosandra - Promachos.
Air Travel
There isn't an airport in the Pella area where Aridaia is located. So, if you need to fly, the closest airport is Macedonia Airport in Thessaloniki.
Famous People from Aridaia
Many talented people come from Aridaia! Here are a few:
- Petros Dourdoumpakis, a singer
- Haris Kostopoulos, a singer
- Antonis Minou, a football player
- Giorgos Paschalides, a civil engineer and former government minister
- Nikodim Tsarknias, a priest
- Unboxholics, popular YouTubers and Twitch streamers
- Loukas Vyntra, a Greek football player
- Nikolaos Xenitides, a businessman who helped the community
- Despina Zapounidou, a Greek Olympic race walker
Images for kids
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A street in Aridaia
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Old railway station (now a museum)
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Map of Aridaia and surrounding areas
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The park of Aridaia, called Dasaki
