Melissia, Achaea
Encyclopedia
Melissia is a Greek
village in Achaea
, Greece
, part of the municipal unit of Aigio
. It is located 10 to 15 km south of Aigio
, west of Corinth
and about 185 km west Athens
, north-northwest of Kalavryta
and about 45 east of Patras
. The GR-9
(Patras - Pyrgos - Kyparissia
is to the north and the GR-31
(Aigio - Pteri - Kalavryta) runs near the village. Melissia had a 2001 population of 358 for the village and 427 or the municipal district.
Turks
with some interruption by the Venetians in the mid to late-15th century and the mid to late-16th century. Melissia was finally Greek after the Greek War of Independence
of 1821, right after the signing of the declaration of independence.
After World War II
and the Greek Civil War
, much of the population left for larger towns and cities especially the nearby Patras
. The population declined since 1981.
Houses were stone-built until the 1950s and did not surpass modern-style homes until the 1980s. It was linked with pavement in the 1980s. Most of the homes are abandoned today.
Melissia was battered by a forest fire that began on Wednesday July 25 and ended on July 29 and brought catastrophic fire to the area, flames were bursting as high as 30 m and smoke as high as 600 to 700 m. About 20 to 30% of the village wer burnt with some of their properties burnt. One fire was on a mountain slope that created a smoke enough to cover the area and darken the area tan-brown. Tens of fire trucks, helicopters and planes along with firefighters battled the fire in order to end. Several farms and crops were ruined. Some roads were shut down. The fire started in the afternoon hours and expanded to almost to burn about 80 to 90% of the area of Melissia. Residents were panicked on this wildfire. Hundreds to thousands of cattle were lost and about ten thousands trees were burnt down that created an economic and agricultural disaster that may take a couple of years to rebuilt. The flames were stopped by firefighters and headed for other villages in central and southern Aigialeia
and finally ended.
s alond with fruits including watermelon, melon, figs and vegetables including corn, tomatoes, potatoes, onions, cucumbers and others as well as dairy, livestock and others in small numbers, much of the farlmands are mainly groves and vines. The majority of the population are based in agriculture as well as some other businesses.
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
village in Achaea
Achaea
Achaea is one of the regional units of Greece. It is part of the region of West Greece. It is situated in the northwestern part of the Peloponnese peninsula. The capital is Patras. The population exceeds 300,000 since 2001.-Geography:...
, Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
, part of the municipal unit of Aigio
Aigio
Aigio is a town and a former municipality in Achaea, West Greece, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Aigialeia, of which it is the seat and a municipal unit. Its population is around 30,000. Aigio is surrounded by trees in the north and cliffs in the...
. It is located 10 to 15 km south of Aigio
Aigio
Aigio is a town and a former municipality in Achaea, West Greece, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Aigialeia, of which it is the seat and a municipal unit. Its population is around 30,000. Aigio is surrounded by trees in the north and cliffs in the...
, west of Corinth
Corinth
Corinth is a city and former municipality in Corinthia, Peloponnese, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Corinth, of which it is the seat and a municipal unit...
and about 185 km west Athens
Athens
Athens , is the capital and largest city of Greece. Athens dominates the Attica region and is one of the world's oldest cities, as its recorded history spans around 3,400 years. Classical Athens was a powerful city-state...
, north-northwest of Kalavryta
Kalavryta
Kalavryta is a town and a municipality in the eastcentral part of the peripheral unit of Achaea, Greece. It is the southern terminus of the Kalavryta - Diakopto Road and the eastern terminus of the Patras - Kalavryta Road. It is located approx...
and about 45 east of Patras
Patras
Patras , ) is Greece's third largest urban area and the regional capital of West Greece, located in northern Peloponnese, 215 kilometers west of Athens...
. The GR-9
Greek National Road 9
Greek National Road 9 is the second-longest national highway of Greece. It runs through the western Peloponnese, from Patras to Pylos. Its length is around .This highway travels near:*Bypasses:*Patras and Area, since 2002*Vrachneika*Alissos*Kato Achaia...
(Patras - Pyrgos - Kyparissia
Kyparissia
Kyparissia is a town and a former municipality in Messenia, Peloponnese, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Trifylia, of which it is the seat and a municipal unit. The town proper has around 5,708 inhabitants. The town is located on Greek National Road 9,...
is to the north and the GR-31
Greek National Road 31
Greek National Road 31 is a national highway of Greece. It connects Palas with Kalavrita....
(Aigio - Pteri - Kalavryta) runs near the village. Melissia had a 2001 population of 358 for the village and 427 or the municipal district.
Nearest places
- SelinountaSelinountaSelinounta or Selinous is a Greek village located about 35 km south of Aigio, west of Corinth and about 185 km west Athens, north-northwest of Kalavryta and about 60 km east of Patras. Selinus is named after the nearby river. The GR-9 Selinounta or Selinous is a Greek village...
, northeast - Pteri of FteriPteri, GreecePteri is a Greek village in Achaea. Pteri located about 15 km south of Aigio, about 45 km east of Patras, west of Diakopto and northwest of Kalavryta. Pteri is part of the municipal unit of Aigio and had a population of 618 in 2001...
, southeast - KouninaKouninaKounina is a Greek village located about 10 to 15 km south of Aigio, west of Corinth and about 185 km west Athens, north-northwest of Kalavryta and about 45 east of Patras. The GR-9 Kounina (Greek: Κουνινά) is a Greek village located about 10 to 15 km south of Aigio, west of...
, west-northwest - Lakka
- Pyrgaki
Population
| Year | Population | Municipal district population |
|---|---|---|
| 1981 | 492 | - |
| 1991 | 427 | - |
| 2001 | 358 | 427 |
Geography
Its geography are mare up of farmlands that dominate the valley areas and are mainly consists of groves, the mountains that are mainly made up of forests and grasslands especially bushes are around the area. The village is situated by the Selinountas River.History
The village was ruled by the OttomanOttoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
Turks
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
with some interruption by the Venetians in the mid to late-15th century and the mid to late-16th century. Melissia was finally Greek after the Greek War of Independence
Greek War of Independence
The Greek War of Independence, also known as the Greek Revolution was a successful war of independence waged by the Greek revolutionaries between...
of 1821, right after the signing of the declaration of independence.
After World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
and the Greek Civil War
Greek Civil War
The Greek Civil War was fought from 1946 to 1949 between the Greek governmental army, backed by the United Kingdom and United States, and the Democratic Army of Greece , the military branch of the Greek Communist Party , backed by Bulgaria, Yugoslavia and Albania...
, much of the population left for larger towns and cities especially the nearby Patras
Patras
Patras , ) is Greece's third largest urban area and the regional capital of West Greece, located in northern Peloponnese, 215 kilometers west of Athens...
. The population declined since 1981.
Houses were stone-built until the 1950s and did not surpass modern-style homes until the 1980s. It was linked with pavement in the 1980s. Most of the homes are abandoned today.
Melissia was battered by a forest fire that began on Wednesday July 25 and ended on July 29 and brought catastrophic fire to the area, flames were bursting as high as 30 m and smoke as high as 600 to 700 m. About 20 to 30% of the village wer burnt with some of their properties burnt. One fire was on a mountain slope that created a smoke enough to cover the area and darken the area tan-brown. Tens of fire trucks, helicopters and planes along with firefighters battled the fire in order to end. Several farms and crops were ruined. Some roads were shut down. The fire started in the afternoon hours and expanded to almost to burn about 80 to 90% of the area of Melissia. Residents were panicked on this wildfire. Hundreds to thousands of cattle were lost and about ten thousands trees were burnt down that created an economic and agricultural disaster that may take a couple of years to rebuilt. The flames were stopped by firefighters and headed for other villages in central and southern Aigialeia
Aigialeia
Aigialeia is a municipality and a former province of the Achaea peripheral unit, Greece. The seat of the municipality is the town Aigio. The main towns are Aigio, Akrata and Diakopto. The mountains dominate the central, the southern and the western part, farmlands dominate the northern part...
and finally ended.
Information
Melissia has approximately 6 to 8 km of paved road and 15 km of gravel roads. Kounina also has approximately 6 to 8 km of hydro lines as well as phone lines.Economy
Its main production are oliveOlive
The olive , Olea europaea), is a species of a small tree in the family Oleaceae, native to the coastal areas of the eastern Mediterranean Basin as well as northern Iran at the south end of the Caspian Sea.Its fruit, also called the olive, is of major agricultural importance in the...
s alond with fruits including watermelon, melon, figs and vegetables including corn, tomatoes, potatoes, onions, cucumbers and others as well as dairy, livestock and others in small numbers, much of the farlmands are mainly groves and vines. The majority of the population are based in agriculture as well as some other businesses.