Karla, Greece
Encyclopedia
Karla is a former municipality
in Magnesia, Thessaly
, Greece
. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Rigas Feraios
, of which it is a municipal unit. It is an agricultural area producing cereals, cotton and vegetables (28 kilometres away from Volos
). The capital of the municipality was Stefanovikeio. The first name of Lake Karla
was Voivis. This shows that it was dedicated to the sun and the goddess of Light Phoebe
who was Leto's mother. Leto
was the mother of Apollo
who also had the name Phoebus which means the sun.
In the Middle Ages
the name changed to Karla after the Lake Karla
. The draining of the lake begun in 1956 and was completed in 1962. The lake was just outside Kanalia
, where according to Greek mythology
, Apollo
fell in love with Coronis. Asclepius
, the first famous Greek
doctor, was the outcome of this relationship.
The old town of Karla which led its name to the lake, was in fact where the modern village of Kanalia
is today. Today Lake Karla is in the process of being reconstructed and in a few years, the area is expected to be developed, as an area of interest for tourists.
The village of Kanalia is located 26 kilometres from Volos and at a height of 80 metres above the sea level. It is one of the prettiest on the north-west side of Pelion
. It is built on the foundation of the Acropolis Voivis in the plains of Metochi
. On the hill above the village one can see the remains of the walls of ancient Voivis as well as the ruins of three forts that protected the road. Kanalia, Kapourna and Kerasia make up the first municipality of Voivis in Volos. The church of Saint Nicolas
(11th century), can be found in the area. Visitors to the area enjoy the plethora of almond
trees when they are in blossom
, they can even attend the celebration of the blossoming almond trees. Rizomylos is considered to be a village that has suffered a lot as many of the inhabitants were killed during the World War II
and the German
occupation. Carnival celebrations take place in the villages of Rizomylos
and Stefanovikio
.
Ano and Kato kerasia are well-known for their stone arched backed bridges as well as their customs.
The population of the municipality is 5,531 according to the census (2001).
Communities and Municipalities of Greece
For the new municipalities of Greece see the Kallikratis ProgrammeThe municipalities and communities of Greece are one of several levels of government within the organizational structure of that country. Thirteen regions called peripheries form the largest unit of government beneath the State. ...
in Magnesia, 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....
, Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Rigas Feraios
Rigas Feraios (municipality)
Rigas Feraios is a municipality in the Magnesia peripheral unit, Thessaly, Greece. The seat of the municipality is the town Velestino. The municipality was named after the Greek writer and revolutionary Rigas Feraios, whose hometown Velestino is....
, of which it is a municipal unit. It is an agricultural area producing cereals, cotton and vegetables (28 kilometres away from Volos
Volos
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...
). The capital of the municipality was Stefanovikeio. The first name of Lake Karla
Lake Karla
Lake Karla is a former lake that sits at 60 to 80 m above sea level making it the only one in the plain of Thessaly. The lake is located at the northern end of the prefecture of Magnesia in the Pineios basin, adjacent to Pelion and Maurovouni mountains...
was Voivis. This shows that it was dedicated to the sun and the goddess of Light Phoebe
Phoebe (mythology)
In Greek mythology "radiant" Phoebe , was one of the original Titans, who were one set of sons and daughters of Uranus and Gaia. She was traditionally associated with the moon , as in Michael Drayton's Endimion and Phœbe, , the first extended treatment of the Endymion myth in English...
who was Leto's mother. Leto
Leto
In Greek mythology, Leto is a daughter of the Titans Coeus and Phoebe. The island of Kos is claimed as her birthplace. In the Olympian scheme, Zeus is the father of her twins, Apollo and Artemis, the Letoides, which Leto conceived after her hidden beauty accidentally caught the eyes of Zeus...
was the mother of Apollo
Apollo
Apollo is one of the most important and complex of the Olympian deities in Greek and Roman mythology...
who also had the name Phoebus which means the sun.
In the Middle Ages
Middle Ages
The Middle Ages is a periodization of European history from the 5th century to the 15th century. The Middle Ages follows the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 and precedes the Early Modern Era. It is the middle period of a three-period division of Western history: Classic, Medieval and Modern...
the name changed to Karla after the Lake Karla
Lake Karla
Lake Karla is a former lake that sits at 60 to 80 m above sea level making it the only one in the plain of Thessaly. The lake is located at the northern end of the prefecture of Magnesia in the Pineios basin, adjacent to Pelion and Maurovouni mountains...
. The draining of the lake begun in 1956 and was completed in 1962. The lake was just outside Kanalia
Kanalia
Kanalia is a village in Thessaly, Greece, part of the municipality Rigas Feraios. It is located from Volos and at a height of above the sea level. It is one of the prettiest on the north-west side of Pelion. It is built on the foundation of the Acropolis Voivis in the plains of Metochi...
, where according to Greek mythology
Greek mythology
Greek mythology is the body of myths and legends belonging to the ancient Greeks, concerning their gods and heroes, the nature of the world, and the origins and significance of their own cult and ritual practices. They were a part of religion in ancient Greece...
, Apollo
Apollo
Apollo is one of the most important and complex of the Olympian deities in Greek and Roman mythology...
fell in love with Coronis. Asclepius
Asclepius
Asclepius is the God of Medicine and Healing in ancient Greek religion. Asclepius represents the healing aspect of the medical arts; his daughters are Hygieia , Iaso , Aceso , Aglæa/Ægle , and Panacea...
, the first famous Greek
Ancient Greece
Ancient Greece is a civilization belonging to a period of Greek history that lasted from the Archaic period of the 8th to 6th centuries BC to the end of antiquity. Immediately following this period was the beginning of the Early Middle Ages and the Byzantine era. Included in Ancient Greece is the...
doctor, was the outcome of this relationship.
The old town of Karla which led its name to the lake, was in fact where the modern village of Kanalia
Kanalia
Kanalia is a village in Thessaly, Greece, part of the municipality Rigas Feraios. It is located from Volos and at a height of above the sea level. It is one of the prettiest on the north-west side of Pelion. It is built on the foundation of the Acropolis Voivis in the plains of Metochi...
is today. Today Lake Karla is in the process of being reconstructed and in a few years, the area is expected to be developed, as an area of interest for tourists.
The village of Kanalia is located 26 kilometres from Volos and at a height of 80 metres above the sea level. It is one of the prettiest on the north-west side of Pelion
Pelion
Pelion or Pelium is a mountain at the southeastern part of Thessaly in central Greece, forming a hook-like peninsula between the Pagasetic Gulf and the Aegean Sea...
. It is built on the foundation of the Acropolis Voivis in the plains of Metochi
Metochi
Metochi may refer to:*Metochionor several places in Greece:*in Lesbos: An annex to the Leimonos monastery in the municipality of Kalloni. Since 1992 leased to the University of Agder for use as an academic study and conference centre.*in Achaea:...
. On the hill above the village one can see the remains of the walls of ancient Voivis as well as the ruins of three forts that protected the road. Kanalia, Kapourna and Kerasia make up the first municipality of Voivis in Volos. The church of Saint Nicolas
Saint Nicolas
Saint-Nicolas may refer to the following places:-In Belgium:*Saint-Nicolas, Belgium, in the Province of Liège*The French name for Sint-Niklaas, in Province of East Flanders-In France:*Saint-Nicolas, Pas-de-Calais...
(11th century), can be found in the area. Visitors to the area enjoy the plethora of almond
Almond
The almond , is a species of tree native to the Middle East and South Asia. Almond is also the name of the edible and widely cultivated seed of this tree...
trees when they are in blossom
Blossom
In botany, blossom is a term given to the flowers of stone fruit trees and of some other plants with a similar appearance that flower profusely for a period of time in spring...
, they can even attend the celebration of the blossoming almond trees. Rizomylos is considered to be a village that has suffered a lot as many of the inhabitants were killed during the 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 German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
occupation. Carnival celebrations take place in the villages of Rizomylos
Rizomylos
Rizomylos or Rizomilos may refer to several places in Greece:*Rizomylos, a village in the Achaea prefecture*Rizomylos a village in the Messenia prefecture*Rizomylos a village in the Magnesia prefecture...
and Stefanovikio
Stefanovikio
Stefanovikeio is a small town in Thessaly, Greece. It is part of the municipality Rigas Feraios, and the municipal unit Karla....
.
Ano and Kato kerasia are well-known for their stone arched backed bridges as well as their customs.
The population of the municipality is 5,531 according to the census (2001).