Karditsa Prefecture
Encyclopedia
Karditsa is one of the regional units of Greece. It is part of the region of Thessaly
. Its name is derived from its capital Karditsa
, a small city of approximately 35,000 people.
to the southeast, Evrytania
to the south, Aetolia-Acarnania
to the southwest and Arta to the west. The main rivers are Megdovas ino the south, the Pineios in the north, and the Enipeas in the east. The Plastiras Dam
and Lake Plastiras
, located to the west of the city of Karditsa, supply water to the plains and the central part of Greece.
Located in south-western Thessaly, it is primarily an agricultural area. Farmlands dominate the central and the eastern part, which belongs to the Thessalian Plain. The western and southern part of the regional unit is mountainous, notably the Pindus
mountains. The Agrafa
region, straddling the border with Evrytania
, is well known for its resistance against Ottoman
rule and its harsh landscape.
in 1899, and again in 1947. As a part of the 2011 Kallikratis government reform, the regional unit Karditsa was created out of the former prefecture Karditsa. The prefecture had the same territory as the present regional unit. At the same time, the municipalities were reorganised, according to the table below.
, the present day Karditsa regional unit was in the Kingdom of Macedonia and later the Roman Empire
, the Byzantine Empire
, Great Wallachia
, the Ottoman Empire
from the 15th century until 1881 and finally Greece after the liberation of Thessaly and northcentral Greece. Its economy and agriculture boomed during that period; Karditsa was administered as the Trikala-Karditsa prefecture until 1947. It was affected by World War II
and the Greek Civil War
which saw many buildings destroyed and inhabitants left homeless and in hiding. The prefecture was later rebuilt and received electricity, appliances and motorised transport, while emigration also began in the 1950s, when construction of Lake Plastiras was added. Television arrived in the 1970s and the 1980s for its villages, and its economy later declined, seeing high unemployment in the prefecture.
mountains in the west of the prefecture are dominated by a strong Sarakatsani
and Aromanian
, or Vlach , element. The population was 121,775 in 2001.
's protected cultural monuments.
The city is also an important knowledge centre, supporting the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine of the University of Thessaly
, the Faculty of Wood and Furniture Technology, and the Faculty of Forestry Technology of the Technological Educational Institute of Larissa. There is also a Police Academy.
to Meteora
crosses Thessaly
. The region is directly linked to the rest of Europe
through International Airport of Central Greece
located in Nea Anchialos
in a small distance from Karditsa
.
Thessaly
Thessaly is a traditional geographical region and an administrative region of Greece, comprising most of the ancient region of the same name. Before the Greek Dark Ages, Thessaly was known as Aeolia, and appears thus in Homer's Odyssey....
. Its name is derived from its capital Karditsa
Karditsa
Karditsa is a city in western Thessaly in mainland Greece. The city of Karditsa is the capital of Karditsa peripheral unit.Inhabitation is attested from 9000 BCE. Karditsa ls linked with GR-30, the road to Karpenisi, and the road to Palamas and Larissa...
, a small city of approximately 35,000 people.
Geography
Karditsa borders the regional units of Trikala to the north, Larissa to the east, PhthiotisPhthiotis
Phthiotis is one of the regional units of Greece. It is part of the administrative region of Central Greece. The capital is the city of Lamia. It is bordered by the Malian Gulf to the east, Boeotia in the south, Phocis in the south, Aetolia-Acarnania in the southwest, Evrytania in the west,...
to the southeast, Evrytania
Evrytania
Evrytania is one of the regional units of Greece. It is part of the region of Central Greece. Its capital is Karpenisi .-Geography:...
to the south, Aetolia-Acarnania
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...
to the southwest and Arta to the west. The main rivers are Megdovas ino the south, the Pineios in the north, and the Enipeas in the east. The Plastiras Dam
Plastiras Dam
The Plastiras Dam is a concrete arch dam in Karditsa Prefecture, Greece that blocks Tavropos River flow, effectively creating an artificial lake respectively called the Lake Plastiras.-Name:...
and Lake Plastiras
Lake Plastiras
Lake Plastiras also called Tavropos Reservoir is an artificial lake fed by Tavropos river, located in Karditsa Prefecture, near the city of Karditsa, Greece.-Name:...
, located to the west of the city of Karditsa, supply water to the plains and the central part of Greece.
Located in south-western Thessaly, it is primarily an agricultural area. Farmlands dominate the central and the eastern part, which belongs to the Thessalian Plain. The western and southern part of the regional unit is mountainous, notably the Pindus
Pindus
The Pindus mountain range is located in northern Greece and southern Albania. It is roughly 160 km long, with a maximum elevation of 2637 m . Because it runs along the border of Thessaly and Epirus, the Pindus range is often called the "spine of Greece"...
mountains. The Agrafa
Agrafa
Agrafa is a mountainous region in Evrytania and Karditsa prefectures in mainland Greece, consisting mainly of small villages. It is the southernmost part of the Pindus range...
region, straddling the border with Evrytania
Evrytania
Evrytania is one of the regional units of Greece. It is part of the region of Central Greece. Its capital is Karpenisi .-Geography:...
, is well known for its resistance against Ottoman
Ottoman 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...
rule and its harsh landscape.
Administration
The regional unit Karditsa is subdivided into 6 municipalities. These are (number as in the map in the infobox):- ArgitheaArgitheaArgithea is a village and a municipality in the Karditsa peripheral unit of Greece. The seat of the municipality is in Anthiro. The name derives from King Argitheos of the Athamanians who ruled circa the 3rd to 2nd century B.C.-Municipality:...
(2) - KarditsaKarditsaKarditsa is a city in western Thessaly in mainland Greece. The city of Karditsa is the capital of Karditsa peripheral unit.Inhabitation is attested from 9000 BCE. Karditsa ls linked with GR-30, the road to Karpenisi, and the road to Palamas and Larissa...
(1) - Lake PlastirasLake Plastiras (municipality)Lake Plastiras is a municipality in the Karditsa peripheral unit, Thessaly, Greece. The seat of the municipality is the town Morfovouni. The municipality was named after the artificial Lake Plastiras, that was named in turn after the general and three-times Prime Minister Nikolaos...
(Limni Plastiras, 3) - MouzakiMouzakiMouzaki is a town and a municipality in the northwestern part of the Karditsa Prefecture, Greece. Mouzaki is located 50 km from Anthiro, 75 km northeast from Vragkiana, 34 km from Petrilo and 28 km west of Karditsa. It is also located 20 km from Trikala and 180 km east of Arta...
(4) - PalamasPalamasPalamas is a town and a municipality in the Karditsa Prefecture, Greece. Population 10,050 . Palamas is located south-southwest of Larissa, the capital of Thessaly, northwest of Lamia, north of Sofades, east-northeast of Karditsa and east-southeast of Trikala. Palamas is linked with the road...
(5) - SofadesSofadesSofades is a town and municipality in Thessaly, central Greece belonging to the peripheral unit of Karditsa. Its 2001 census population was 6,106 people and 23,043 for the municipality, including a large Roma minority. Its elevation is around 120 m above sea level, and the economy is mainly...
(6)
Prefecture
Karditsa was created as a prefecturePrefectures of Greece
During the first administrative division of independent Greece in 1833–1836 and then again from 1845 until their abolition with the Kallikratis reform in 2010, the prefectures were the country's main administrative unit...
in 1899, and again in 1947. As a part of the 2011 Kallikratis government reform, the regional unit Karditsa was created out of the former prefecture Karditsa. The prefecture had the same territory as the present regional unit. At the same time, the municipalities were reorganised, according to the table below.
| New municipality | Old municipalities | Seat |
|---|---|---|
| Argithea Argithea Argithea is a village and a municipality in the Karditsa peripheral unit of Greece. The seat of the municipality is in Anthiro. The name derives from King Argitheos of the Athamanians who ruled circa the 3rd to 2nd century B.C.-Municipality:... |
Argithea Argithea Argithea is a village and a municipality in the Karditsa peripheral unit of Greece. The seat of the municipality is in Anthiro. The name derives from King Argitheos of the Athamanians who ruled circa the 3rd to 2nd century B.C.-Municipality:... |
Anthiro |
| Athamanes/Anatoliki Argithea | ||
| Acheloos Acheloos (municipality) Acheloos is a former municipality in the Karditsa peripheral unit, Thessaly, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Argithea, of which it is a municipal unit. It is named after the Acheloos River. Population 1,690 . The seat of the municipality was in... |
||
| Karditsa Karditsa Karditsa is a city in western Thessaly in mainland Greece. The city of Karditsa is the capital of Karditsa peripheral unit.Inhabitation is attested from 9000 BCE. Karditsa ls linked with GR-30, the road to Karpenisi, and the road to Palamas and Larissa... |
Karditsa Karditsa Karditsa is a city in western Thessaly in mainland Greece. The city of Karditsa is the capital of Karditsa peripheral unit.Inhabitation is attested from 9000 BCE. Karditsa ls linked with GR-30, the road to Karpenisi, and the road to Palamas and Larissa... |
Karditsa |
| Itamos Itamos Itamos is a former municipality in the Karditsa peripheral unit, Thessaly, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Karditsa, of which it is a municipal unit. Population 4,726 . The seat of the municipality was in Kallithiro.... |
||
| Kallifono Kallifono Kallifono is a village and a former municipality in the Karditsa peripheral unit, Thessaly, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Karditsa, of which it is a municipal unit. Population 3,246 .... |
||
| Kampos Kampos, Karditsa Kampos is a former municipality in the Karditsa peripheral unit, Thessaly, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Karditsa, of which it is a municipal unit. Population 5,469 . The seat of the municipality was in Stavros.... |
||
| Mitropoli Mitropoli Mitropoli is a village and a former municipality in the Karditsa peripheral unit, Thessaly, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Karditsa, of which it is a municipal unit. Population 4,759 . Also called "Paliocastro" or old castle.... |
||
| Lake Plastiras Lake Plastiras (municipality) Lake Plastiras is a municipality in the Karditsa peripheral unit, Thessaly, Greece. The seat of the municipality is the town Morfovouni. The municipality was named after the artificial Lake Plastiras, that was named in turn after the general and three-times Prime Minister Nikolaos... (Limni Plastiras) |
Plastiras Plastiras Plastiras is a former municipality in the Karditsa peripheral unit, Thessaly, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Lake Plastiras, of which it is a municipal unit. It was named after the Greek general and Prime Minister Nikolaos Plastiras. Population 3,791... |
Morfovouni |
| Nevropoli Agrafon Nevropoli Agrafon Nevropoli Agrafon is a former municipality in the Karditsa peripheral unit, Thessaly, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Lake Plastiras, of which it is a municipal unit. Population 3,601 . The seat of the municipality was in Pezoula.... |
||
| Mouzaki Mouzaki Mouzaki is a town and a municipality in the northwestern part of the Karditsa Prefecture, Greece. Mouzaki is located 50 km from Anthiro, 75 km northeast from Vragkiana, 34 km from Petrilo and 28 km west of Karditsa. It is also located 20 km from Trikala and 180 km east of Arta... |
Mouzaki Mouzaki Mouzaki is a town and a municipality in the northwestern part of the Karditsa Prefecture, Greece. Mouzaki is located 50 km from Anthiro, 75 km northeast from Vragkiana, 34 km from Petrilo and 28 km west of Karditsa. It is also located 20 km from Trikala and 180 km east of Arta... |
Mouzaki |
| Ithomi Ithomi, Karditsa Ithomi is a former municipality in the Karditsa peripheral unit, Thessaly, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Mouzaki, of which it is a municipal unit. Population 3,140 . The seat of the municipality was in Fanari.... |
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| Pamisos Pamisos Pamisos is a former municipality in the Karditsa peripheral unit, Thessaly, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Mouzaki, of which it is a municipal unit. Population 4,622 . The seat of the municipality was in Agnantero.... |
||
| Palamas Palamas Palamas is a town and a municipality in the Karditsa Prefecture, Greece. Population 10,050 . Palamas is located south-southwest of Larissa, the capital of Thessaly, northwest of Lamia, north of Sofades, east-northeast of Karditsa and east-southeast of Trikala. Palamas is linked with the road... |
Palamas Palamas Palamas is a town and a municipality in the Karditsa Prefecture, Greece. Population 10,050 . Palamas is located south-southwest of Larissa, the capital of Thessaly, northwest of Lamia, north of Sofades, east-northeast of Karditsa and east-southeast of Trikala. Palamas is linked with the road... |
Palamas |
| Sellana Sellana Sellana is a former municipality in the Karditsa peripheral unit, Thessaly, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Palamas, of which it is a municipal unit. Population 5,051 . The seat of the municipality was in Proastio, which has 1,833 inhabitants... |
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| Fyllo Fyllo Fyllo is a former municipality in the Karditsa peripheral unit, Thessaly, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Palamas, of which it is a municipal unit. Population 4,043 . The seat of the municipality was in Itea.... |
||
| Sofades Sofades Sofades is a town and municipality in Thessaly, central Greece belonging to the peripheral unit of Karditsa. Its 2001 census population was 6,106 people and 23,043 for the municipality, including a large Roma minority. Its elevation is around 120 m above sea level, and the economy is mainly... |
Sofades Sofades Sofades is a town and municipality in Thessaly, central Greece belonging to the peripheral unit of Karditsa. Its 2001 census population was 6,106 people and 23,043 for the municipality, including a large Roma minority. Its elevation is around 120 m above sea level, and the economy is mainly... |
Sofades |
| Arni Arni, Karditsa Arni is a former municipality in the Karditsa peripheral unit, Thessaly, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Sofades, of which it is a municipal unit. Population 3,299 . The seat of the municipality was in Mataragka.... |
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| Menelaida Menelaida Menelaida is a former municipality in the Karditsa peripheral unit, Thessaly, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Sofades, of which it is a municipal unit. Population 2,701 . The seat of the municipality was in Kedros.... |
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| Rentina Rentina, Karditsa Rentina is a village and a former municipality in the Karditsa peripheral unit, Thessaly, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Sofades, of which it is a municipal unit. Population 756 .... |
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| Tamasio Tamasio Tamasio is a former municipality in the Karditsa peripheral unit, Thessaly, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Sofades, of which it is a municipal unit. Population 4,072 . The seat of the municipality was in Leontari.... |
History
Encompassing the ancient geographical region of Thessaliotis, one of the four ancient districts of ThessalyThessaly
Thessaly is a traditional geographical region and an administrative region of Greece, comprising most of the ancient region of the same name. Before the Greek Dark Ages, Thessaly was known as Aeolia, and appears thus in Homer's Odyssey....
, the present day Karditsa regional unit was in the Kingdom of Macedonia and later the Roman Empire
Roman Empire
The Roman Empire was the post-Republican period of the ancient Roman civilization, characterised by an autocratic form of government and large territorial holdings in Europe and around the Mediterranean....
, the Byzantine Empire
Byzantine Empire
The Byzantine Empire was the Eastern Roman Empire during the periods of Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages, centred on the capital of Constantinople. Known simply as the Roman Empire or Romania to its inhabitants and neighbours, the Empire was the direct continuation of the Ancient Roman State...
, Great Wallachia
Great Wallachia
Great Wallachia , also Thessaly Wallachia, was a medieval state of the Aromanians , which included the region of Thessaly in Greece, the southern and central ranges of Pindus and extending over part of Macedonia.Anna Komnene in the second half of the eleventh century was the first author to write...
, the Ottoman Empire
Ottoman 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...
from the 15th century until 1881 and finally Greece after the liberation of Thessaly and northcentral Greece. Its economy and agriculture boomed during that period; Karditsa was administered as the Trikala-Karditsa prefecture until 1947. It was affected by 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...
which saw many buildings destroyed and inhabitants left homeless and in hiding. The prefecture was later rebuilt and received electricity, appliances and motorised transport, while emigration also began in the 1950s, when construction of Lake Plastiras was added. Television arrived in the 1970s and the 1980s for its villages, and its economy later declined, seeing high unemployment in the prefecture.
People
The plains of central and southern Karditsa are inhabited by the Karagounides , while the AgrafaAgrafa
Agrafa is a mountainous region in Evrytania and Karditsa prefectures in mainland Greece, consisting mainly of small villages. It is the southernmost part of the Pindus range...
mountains in the west of the prefecture are dominated by a strong Sarakatsani
Sarakatsani
The Sarakatsani are a group of Greek transhumant shepherds inhabiting chiefly Greece, with a smaller presence in neighbouring Bulgaria, southern Albania and the Republic of Macedonia. Historically centered around the Pindus mountains, they have been currently urbanised to a significant degree...
and Aromanian
Aromanians
Aromanians are a Latin people native throughout the southern Balkans, especially in northern Greece, Albania, the Republic of Macedonia, Bulgaria, and as an emigrant community in Serbia and Romania . An older term is Macedo-Romanians...
, or Vlach , element. The population was 121,775 in 2001.
Culture and education
The Public Market of Karditsa is one of UNESCOUNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
's protected cultural monuments.
The city is also an important knowledge centre, supporting the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine of the University of Thessaly
University of Thessaly
The University of Thessaly is a university in Thessaly, Greece, founded in 1984. The university is based in Volos, but operates campuses in Larissa, Trikala and Karditsa...
, the Faculty of Wood and Furniture Technology, and the Faculty of Forestry Technology of the Technological Educational Institute of Larissa. There is also a Police Academy.
Sporting teams
- Anagennisi KarditsaAnagennisi KarditsaAnagennisi Karditsa, or Anagennisi Karditsa 1904 , is a Greek association football club based in the city of Karditsa, Greece.The club currently competes in Football League.-History:...
(football) - Karditsa (city) - second division - A.O. Karditsa - Karditsa - fourth division
- Iraklis Sofades - Sofades
- Tavropos - Karditsa - fourth division
Transport
There are a number of highways E75 and the main railway from VolosVolos
Volos is a coastal port city in Thessaly situated midway on the Greek mainland, about 326 km north of Athens and 215 km south of Thessaloniki...
to Meteora
Meteora
The Metéora is one of the largest and most important complexes of Eastern Orthodox monasteries in Greece, second only to Mount Athos. The six monasteries are built on natural sandstone rock pillars, at the northwestern edge of the Plain of Thessaly near the Pineios river and Pindus Mountains, in...
crosses Thessaly
Thessaly
Thessaly is a traditional geographical region and an administrative region of Greece, comprising most of the ancient region of the same name. Before the Greek Dark Ages, Thessaly was known as Aeolia, and appears thus in Homer's Odyssey....
. The region is directly linked to the rest of Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
through International Airport of Central Greece
International Airport of Central Greece
Nea Anchialos National Airport is an airport located near the town of Nea Anchialos in Greece. It serves the city of Volos and is also known as Volos Central Greece Airport or Volos Nea Anchialos Airport of Central Greece....
located in Nea Anchialos
Nea Anchialos
Nea Anchialos is a town and a former municipality in Magnesia, Thessaly, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Volos, of which it is a municipal unit. It is situated southwest of Volos and north of Almyros. It is placed on the national highway...
in a small distance from Karditsa
Karditsa
Karditsa is a city in western Thessaly in mainland Greece. The city of Karditsa is the capital of Karditsa peripheral unit.Inhabitation is attested from 9000 BCE. Karditsa ls linked with GR-30, the road to Karpenisi, and the road to Palamas and Larissa...
.
- Greek National Road 30Greek National Road 30The Greek National Road 30 is a highway or route that links the cities of Volos, Karditsa, Trikala and Arta.-Information:...
, NW, Cen., SE - Karditsa - Larissa road, Cen., NE
- Karditsa Bypass
Persons
- Nikolaos PlastirasNikolaos PlastirasNikolaos Plastiras was a Greek general and politician, who served thrice as Prime Minister of Greece. A distinguished soldier and known for his personal bravery, he was known as "O Mavros Kavalaris" during the Greco-Turkish War of 1919-1922...
- Vassilis PapazachosVassilis PapazachosVassilis Papazachos is a Greek seismologist.Born 30 September 1929 in the village of Smokovo in Karditsa Prefecture, Vassilis Papazachos studied physics in the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. He first became involved in geophysics as an assistant of professor Angelos Galanopoulos...
- Georgios KaraiskakisGeorgios KaraiskakisGeorgios Karaiskakis born Georgios Iskos was a famous Greek klepht, armatolos, military commander, and a hero of the Greek War of Independence.- Early life :...
- Charilaos FlorakisCharilaos FlorakisCharilaos Florakis was a leader of the Communist Party of Greece .Florakis was born on 20 July 1914 in the village of Paliozoglopi, located near Agrafa in the Itamos municipality, prefecture of Karditsa, Greece. He joined KKE, in 1941...
- Seraphim Archbishop of Athens and All GreeceSeraphim of AthensSeraphim - born Vissarion Tikas was Archbishop of Athens and All Greece from 1974 to 1998....
- Elena PaparizouElena PaparizouEleni "Elena" Paparizou , usually referred to abroad as Helena Paparizou, is a Greek-Swedish singer and occasional songwriter, who was born and raised in Sweden by Greek parents. She began her career there in 1999 as a member of the duo Antique, while she also worked briefly as a model for a...
- Nikolaos MichopoulosNikolaos MichopoulosNikolaos "Nick" Michopoulos was a Greek professional football player. During his career he played for PAOK Salonika and Burnley, as well as a short loan spell at Crystal Palace and short period to Omonia Nicosia...
- Kostas BantasKostas BantasKostas Badas is a professional football sweeper and defender currently playing for Anagennisi Karditsa F.C. in the Greek second division.-Career:...
- Dimitris SioufasDimitris SioufasDimitris Sioufas is a Greek lawyer and New Democracy politician.Born in Ellinopyrgos, Karditsa, Sioufas has a degree in political science and public administration at the Panteion University of Athens as well as in law from the University of Thessaloniki.He was first elected to the Greek...
- Athanasios Taliadouros
External links
- Map of Karditsa
- Ecoguides - Area of Karditsa
- Municipality of Karditsa
- Karditsa e-City
- http://www.karditsa-net.gr/
- MyKarditsa, includes news
- Karditsa Wireless Metropolitan Network, Karditsas Wifi Community Network
- http://www.e-karditsa.gr/
- Informations, maps, reservations for Lake Plastira - Λίμνη Πλαστήρα
- Λίμνη Πλαστήρα
- Λίμνη Πλαστήρα - Limni Plastira
- Ξενοδοχεία λίμνης Πλαστήρα
- Λίμνη Πλαστήρα