Karpenisi facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Karpenisi
Καρπενήσι
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Part of the town
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 Karpenisi
Location in Greece
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| Country | Greece |
| Administrative region | Central Greece |
| Regional unit | Evrytania |
| Area | |
| • Municipality | 948.6 km2 (366.3 sq mi) |
| • Municipal unit | 250.9 km2 (96.9 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 960 m (3,150 ft) |
| Population
(2021)
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| • Municipality | 11,445 |
| • Municipality density | 12.0651/km2 (31.2486/sq mi) |
| • Municipal unit | 7,921 |
| • Municipal unit density | 31.570/km2 (81.767/sq mi) |
| Community | |
| • Population | 6,788 (2021) |
| Time zone | UTC+2 (EET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+3 (EEST) |
| Postal code |
361 00
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| Area code(s) | 22370 |
| Vehicle registration | ΚΗ |
| Website | www.karpenissi.gr |
Karpenisi (Greek: Καρπενήσι) is a beautiful town located in central Greece. It is the main town of an area called Evrytania. Karpenisi sits in a valley near the Karpenisiotis river, which flows into the Megdovas river.
The town is surrounded by mountains, including Pindus Mountains to the south. Mount Tymfristos (2,315 meters high) is just north of the town. The foothills of Mount Kaliakouda are to the south. Karpenisi is famous for its ski resort and is a popular place to visit, especially in winter. People sometimes call it the Switzerland of Greece because its mountains and beauty remind them of Switzerland. This is quite special for a place in the Mediterranean!
Contents
What's in a Name?
The name Karpenisi comes from an old language called Aromanian. The word kárpinu means 'hornbeam', which is a type of tree. The ending -iş was added to it.
In Greek, the name looks a bit like the word for 'island' (νησί, pronounced [niˈsi]). This is just a coincidence, though! The name Karpenisi was first written down in an old tax record from the Ottoman Empire around 1454–1455.
About the Municipality
A municipality is like a local government area. The Karpenisi municipality was created in 2011. It was formed by joining six smaller areas that used to be separate municipalities. These areas are now called municipal units.
The total area of the Karpenisi municipality is about 948.570 square kilometers. The main municipal unit of Karpenisi itself covers about 250.887 square kilometers.
Leaders of Karpenisi
The mayor is like the main leader of the town and its surrounding areas. Here are some of the people who have been mayor of Karpenisi:
- Kostas Bakoyannis, from 2011 to 2014
- Nikos Souliotis, from 2014 to 2023
- Christos Kakavas, who has been mayor since 2024
Karpenisi's Past
Karpenisi has a long and interesting history. In ancient times, this area was known as Oechalia. A king named Evrytos, who was said to have invented the bow, ruled here.
During the Greek War of Independence in 1821, Karpenisi's location in the mountains was very important. It was a strategic spot for fighting in central Greece. Later, during World War I and World War II, the region played a big part. It was where the armed National Resistance movement began, with people bravely standing up for their country.
Weather in Karpenisi
Because Karpenisi is high up in the mountains, it has a temperate climate. This means it gets plenty of rain all year round. The temperatures are much cooler than in many other parts of Greece.
In winter, it snows often and heavily. Summers are usually warm and pleasant, with cool nights.
| Climate data for Karpenisi town weather station (998m) | |||||||||||||
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| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 6 (43) |
8.9 (48.0) |
12.1 (53.8) |
14.4 (57.9) |
20.3 (68.5) |
24.5 (76.1) |
27.4 (81.3) |
28.5 (83.3) |
24.2 (75.6) |
19.9 (67.8) |
13 (55) |
10.5 (50.9) |
17.5 (63.4) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | −1.7 (28.9) |
0.2 (32.4) |
2.2 (36.0) |
4.4 (39.9) |
8.5 (47.3) |
12.7 (54.9) |
15.5 (59.9) |
16.4 (61.5) |
13.3 (55.9) |
9 (48) |
5.5 (41.9) |
2 (36) |
7.3 (45.2) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 164.7 (6.48) |
108.7 (4.28) |
107.5 (4.23) |
101.2 (3.98) |
58.5 (2.30) |
54.8 (2.16) |
62.2 (2.45) |
39.7 (1.56) |
171.6 (6.76) |
76.7 (3.02) |
145 (5.7) |
179.7 (7.07) |
1,270.3 (49.99) |
| Source: http://penteli.meteo.gr/stations/karpenisitown/ (2019 - 2020 averages) | |||||||||||||
Population Over Time
Here's how the number of people living in Karpenisi has changed over the years:
| Year | Municipal unit | Municipality |
|---|---|---|
| 1981 | 5,230 | – |
| 1991 | 8,185 | – |
| 2001 | 9,390 | – |
| 2011 | 8,575 | 13,105 |
| 2021 | 7,921 | 11,445 |
Sister Cities
Karpenisi has "sister city" relationships with other towns around the world. This means they share cultural ties and friendly connections.
Asheville, United States
Messolonghi, Greece
Engomi, Cyprus
Famous People from Karpenisi
Many notable people have come from Karpenisi:
- Zacharias Papantoniou (1877–1940), a well-known writer.
- Ioannis Theodoropoulos, who won a bronze medal in pole vault at the first modern 1896 Summer Olympics.
- Georgios Kondylis (1878–1936), a General in the Greek army and a Prime Minister of Greece.
- Charalambos Katsimitros (1886–1962), another General in the Greek army who was very brave during the Greco-Italian War.
- Pavlos Bakoyannis (1935–1989), a Greek politician and journalist.
Important Historical Events
- Battle of Karpenisi (August 8, 1823) during the Greek War of Independence. This was an important battle for Greece's freedom.
Images for kids
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Part of the town
See also
In Spanish: Karpenisi para niños
