Gulf of Patras
The Gulf of Patras (Greek: Πατραϊκός Κόλπος Patraikós Kólpos) is a branch of the Ionian Sea. On the east, it is closed by the Strait of Rion between capes Rio, Greece and Antirrio, near the Rio-Antirio bridge. On the west, it is bounded by a line from Oxeia island to Cape Araxos. It is 40–50 km long, 10–20 km wide, and has an area of 350–400 km².
The Port of Patras lies to the southeast and is the only major port on the gulf. It serves ferries to Ancona and Brindisi in Italy along with Kefallonia. Missolonghi also has a port. There are beaches in the south, the east and parts of the north. The old ports of Rio-Antirio lie east of the gulf. The gulf is rich in fish.
Three battles called the 'Battle of Lepanto' were fought in this gulf: that of 1499, that of 1500 and the largest of the three, that of 1571. Lepanto itself is in the Gulf of Corinth, not in the Gulf of Patras. A battle of Patras was fought here in 1772 between Russian and Ottoman fleets.
The ship Vivi hit a mine and sank 30 m below sea level on September 11, 1940.
[edit] Cities and towns
- Rio east, east, beach
- Patras east, port and beaches
- Paralia, southeast
- Roitika, southeast
- Monodendri, southeast
- Tsoukalaiika, south southeast
- Alissos, south, beach
- Alykes, north of Kato Achaia, south
- Ioniki Akti, south
- Mavry Myti, southwest
- Cape Araxos, southwest
- Messolonghi Lagoon, northwest
- Missolonghi, north
- Antirrio, northeast, port
[edit] Tributaries
The following rivers flow into the Gulf of Patras:
