Gavalou
Encyclopedia
Gavalou is a town in Aetolia-Acarnania
, Greece
. Its 2001 population was 1,289. Gavalou is in the municipal unit of Makryneia
. The town is located south and southeast of Lake Trichonida
and is about 20 km south southeast of Agrinio towards the interior of Aetolia-Acarnania.Gavalou was named after the famous Greek general Gavalas, who died in that area after one of his battles. The lake situated next to the town of Gavalou is lake Trihonida, which is the third largest lake in the Balkan region. The area used to be inhabited by the citizens of the Aitoliki Simpoliteia, and the name of the area during the ancient times was Trihonis. Gavalou is also famous in Greece for its extremely high average summer temperatures.
The Old Aetolia was the seacoast extending from the Achelous to Calydon, reaching for a considerable distance into the interior, which is fertile and level; here in the interior lie Stratus and Trichonium, the latter having excellent soilA prominent figure was Alexander, of Trichonium in Aetolia and he was commander of the Aetolians in B. C. 218 and 219. He attacked the rear of the army of Philip on his return from Thermus, but the attempt was unsuccessful, and many Aetolians fell. (Polyb. v. 13)
The town in modern history has been struck by several earthquakes , up to 5.7 on the Richter scale. Several houses and buildings were damaged and were in the minor ranges.
(Antirrio - Messolongi - Arta
- Ioannina
) and the eastern half. Makryneia is located south of Karpenisi
, WNW of Nafpaktos, north of Messolongi, ENE of Aitoliko
and ESE of Agrinio
.
).
Aetolia-Acarnania
Aetolia-Acarnania is one of the regional units of Greece. It is part of the region of West Greece. It is located in the western part of Greece; the regional unit is a combination of the geographic regions Aetolia and Acarnania. Its capital is Missolonghi for historical reasons, with its biggest...
, Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
. Its 2001 population was 1,289. Gavalou is in the municipal unit of Makryneia
Makryneia
Makryneia is a former municipality in Aetolia-Acarnania, West Greece, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Agrinio, of which it is a municipal unit. Population 5,241 . The seat of the municipality was in Gavalou...
. The town is located south and southeast of Lake Trichonida
Lake Trichonida
Lake Trichonida, also Trihonida , older forms: Trihonis ancient: Trichonis is the largest natural lake in Greece. It is located in the eastern part of the Aitoloakarnania prefecture, in the east of Agrinio, south of Evrytania and northwest of Nafpaktos. It covers an area of with a maximum length...
and is about 20 km south southeast of Agrinio towards the interior of Aetolia-Acarnania.Gavalou was named after the famous Greek general Gavalas, who died in that area after one of his battles. The lake situated next to the town of Gavalou is lake Trihonida, which is the third largest lake in the Balkan region. The area used to be inhabited by the citizens of the Aitoliki Simpoliteia, and the name of the area during the ancient times was Trihonis. Gavalou is also famous in Greece for its extremely high average summer temperatures.
Population
| Year | Village population | Municipal district population |
|---|---|---|
| 1981 | 1,407 | - |
| 1991 | 1,383 | - |
| 2001 | 1,203 | 1,289 |
Geography
Its geography includes farmlands within the shoreline and mountains to the south with forests and grasslands.History
Gavalou is probably ancient Thrichonium a town of Aetolia, from which the lake Trichonis derived its name. Its position is uncertain. Leake places it S. of the lake at a place called Gavala, and Kiepert, in his map E. of the lake. But since Strabo mentions it along with Stratus as situated in a fertile plain, it ought probably to be placed N. of the lake (Strab. x. p. 450; Pol. v. 7; Steph. B. s. v.). It was evidently a place of importance, and several natives of this town are mentioned in history. (Pol. iv. 3, v. 13, xvii. 10; Paus. ii. 37. § 3; Leake, Northern Greece, vol. i. p. 155.)The Old Aetolia was the seacoast extending from the Achelous to Calydon, reaching for a considerable distance into the interior, which is fertile and level; here in the interior lie Stratus and Trichonium, the latter having excellent soilA prominent figure was Alexander, of Trichonium in Aetolia and he was commander of the Aetolians in B. C. 218 and 219. He attacked the rear of the army of Philip on his return from Thermus, but the attempt was unsuccessful, and many Aetolians fell. (Polyb. v. 13)
The town in modern history has been struck by several earthquakes , up to 5.7 on the Richter scale. Several houses and buildings were damaged and were in the minor ranges.
Transportation
Gavalou is linked with a road linking the GR-5Greek National Road 5
Greek National Road 5 is a highway in Western Greece. It runs from 2 km south of Rio at GR-8/GR-9 , or at the beginning of the Patras By-Pass in the south up to the city centre of Ioannina. It is now connected with a new bridge, the Rio-Antirio bridge and for 5 km is a joint with GR-48...
(Antirrio - Messolongi - Arta
Arta, Greece
Arta is a city with a rich history in northwestern Greece, capital of the peripheral unit of Arta, which is part of Epirus region. The city was known in ancient times as Ambracia . Arta is famous for its old bridge located over the Arachthos River, situated west of downtown...
- Ioannina
Ioannina
Ioannina , often called Jannena within Greece, is the largest city of Epirus, north-western Greece, with a population of 70,203 . It lies at an elevation of approximately 500 meters above sea level, on the western shore of lake Pamvotis . It is located within the Ioannina municipality, and is the...
) and the eastern half. Makryneia is located south of Karpenisi
Karpenisi
Karpenisi is a town in central Greece. It is the capital of the peripheral unit of Evrytania. The area around Karpenisi is mountainous while farmlands are mainly in valley areas....
, WNW of Nafpaktos, north of Messolongi, ENE of Aitoliko
Aitoliko
Aitoliko is a town and a former municipality in Aetolia-Acarnania, West Greece, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Messolonghi, of which it is a municipal unit. It is located north of the Acheloos delta. The Greek National Road 5/E55 passes through the...
and ESE of Agrinio
Agrinio
Agrinion is the largest city and municipality of the Aetolia-Acarnania peripheral unit of Greece, with 96,321 inhabitants. It is the economical center of Aetolia-Acarnania, although its capital is the town of Mesolonghi. The settlement dates back to ancient times...
.
Other
Gavalou has a school, a lyceum (middle school) a gymnasium (high school), banks, churches, a post office, a few supermarkets, a police station, pharmacies and a square (plateiaPlateia
Plateia or platia is the Greek word for town square. Most Greek and Cypriot cities have several town squares which are a point of reference in travelling and guiding...
).