West Macedonia

West Macedonia
West Macedonia; Περιφέρεια Δυτικής Μακεδονίας
	— Region of Greece —
	; Flag
	; Flag
Country	Greece
Capital	Kozani
Regional units	List Florina; Grevena; Kastoria; Kozani;
	Government
• Regional governor	Georgios Dakis (ND)
	Area
• Total	9,451 km2 (3,649 sq mi)
	Population (2005)
• Total	303,857
• Density	32/km2 (83/sq mi)
ISO 3166 code	GR-C
Website	www.pdm.gov.gr

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This article is about the administrative region in Greece. For other uses, see Macedonia (disambiguation).

West Macedonia is one of the thirteen regions of Greece, consisting of the western part of Greek Macedonia. It is divided into the regional units of Florina, Grevena, Kastoria, and Kozani.

[edit] Geography

The region of West Macedonia is situated in north-western Greece, bordering with the regions of Central Macedonia (east), Thessaly (south), Epirus (west), and bounded to the north at the international borders of Greece with the Republic of Macedonia (Bitola region) and Albania (Korçë County).

Although it covers a total surface of 9,451 km² (3,649 sq mi) (7,2% of country’s total), it has a total population of 302,892 inhabitants (2.9% of the country’s total), thus it is a low-density populated Region (32 per km², as compared to the country’s 79.7 relevant figure). This is mainly due to the mountainous nature of the Region, as 82% of the total surface are mountainous and semi-mountainous areas. This is also reflected in the population distribution, as the major part of the population (56%) lives in rural areas. Capital of the region is Kozani with 47,451 inhabitants. Other main towns are Ptolemaida (32,775), Grevena (16,704), Florina (14,318) and Kastoria (13,959).

[edit] Economy

The map of West Macedonia region.

The Region has one operational Industrial Area in Florina and another one under construction in Kozani. The secondary sector is very important for the Regional economy, mainly due to the mining activities, the production of electric power (70% of country’s total power is produced in the Region) and the fur-leather sector. However, “soft” structures have not followed the general improvement of heavy infrastructures, a situation that has to be remedied, in order to achieve an overall higher economic development of the Region. The R&D services are at a rather low level: only 3,5% of the country’s total research foundations are situated in the Region. Among them, the Technological Educational Institute plays an important role in supporting the regional research and educational efforts. However, an enhanced interaction with SME’s will be a crucial factor, in order to improve the productivity and the added value of products and services generated in the Region of Western Macedonia. Some of its more famous products are marbles, Saffron (krokos Kozanis), fruits, local wines (Kozani, Amyntaio), furs (Kastoria, Siatista) and specialized arts and crafts industry.

The Egnatia motorway via Egnatia (Trans – European Network) that crosses the Region, along with its two vertical National Roads, form a network that dramatically improves the transport conditions in the Region and alter its traditional “isolation” image, mainly due to its mountainous landscape. On the other hand, the railroad network is insufficient and the two airports (Kozani and Kastoria) can only serve small passenger planes. The telecommunication network has drastically improved over the last decade, providing the regional population with adequate services and modern facilities.

The last years the region is being developed in tourism mainly on winter. It is the only Greek region without sea coast, but on the other side there are a lot of lakes, mountains, picturesque villages and two big ski centers in Florina (Vigla) and Grevena (Vasilitsa) and one other under construction in Kozani (Velvendos).

The administrative building of West Macedonia region is located in Zone of Alternate Urban Planning (ZEP) in the city of Kozani.

[edit] Administration

The administrative division of the West Macedonia region in municipalities. In shades of yellow, the former Kastoria Prefecture, in red, the Grevena Prefecture, in blue, the Kozani Prefecture, and in green, the Florina Prefecture

The West Macedonia region was established in the 1987 administrative reform, comprising the prefectures of Kastoria, Grevena, Kozani and Florina.

With the 2010 Kallikratis Programme (Act 3852/2010), its powers and authority were redefined and extended. The region is based at Kozani and is divided into four regional units (the pre-Kallikratis prefectures), which are further subdivided into 12 municipalities (down from 61 pre-Kalikratis local administrative units). Along with Epirus it is supervised by the Decentralized Administration of Epirus and West Macedonia based at Ioannina.

	Municipality	Population	Seat
1.	Kozani	68.680	Kozani
2.	Eordaia	46.540	Ptolemaida
3.	Voio	22.447	Siatista
4.	Servia-Velventos	17.657	Servia
5.	Deskati	7.383	Deskati
6.	Grevena	30.564	Grevena
7.	Nestorio	3.542	Nestorio
8.	Orestida	13.375	Argos Orestiko
9.	Kastoria	36.566	Kastoria
10.	Prespes	2.511	Laimos
11.	Florina	33.282	Florina
12.	Amyntaio	18.975	Amyntaio
Source: Resolution 45892, Ministry of Interior (in Greek)

The region's governor is, since 1 January 2011, Konstantinos Dakis, who was elected in the November 2010 local administration elections for the New Democracy party.

[edit] Demographics

The administrative building of West Macedonia region in Kozani

According to the 2001 census,^[1] the population of West Macedonia was 303,857 people. Today, the region has a mixed population of Greeks and Slavophone Greeks (12% of the population). The former are mainly concentrated in the towns Florina, Kastoria and Ptolemaida.^[2]^[3] Other smaller communities include Aromanians and Arvanites.

Ptolemaida.

West Macedonia. The bridge over the Polyfytos artificial lake of the river Aliakmonas in Kozani Prefecture.

The community of Nymfaio in Florina Prefecture.

The lake Orestiada in Kastoria.

Neoclassical houses at the shoreline of Sakoulevas river, Florina.

Georgios Lassanis mansion in Kozani.

The biggest towns in each prefecture, according to the census of 2001 (only towns with population more than 1,000 recorded):

	Prefecture	Capital	Area (km²)	Population
	Grevena	Grevena	2,291	32,567
1	Grevena			16,421
2	Deskati			4,931
3	Irakleotes			2,418
4	Ventzio			2,364
5	Chasia			2,114
6	Theodoros Ziakas			1,723
7	Kosmas o Aitolos			1,243
8	Gorgiani			1,049
	Kastoria	Kastoria	1,720	53,584
1	Kastoria			17,038
2	Orestida			10,146
3	Agia Triada			6,199
4	Mesopotamia			4,100
5	Makednos			3,398
6	Ion Dragoumis			3,333
7	Agioi Anargyroi			2,690
8	Nestorio			1,533
9	Vitsi			1,436
10	Akrites			1,013
	Kozani	Kozani	3,516	153,959
1	Kozani			49,812
2	Ptolemaida			36,393
3	Servia			9,512
4	Ellispontos			7,481
5	Siatista			6,589
6	Elimeia			6,320
7	Neapoli			4,745
8	Mouriki			4,744
9	Askio			4,530
10	Tsotyli			3,780
11	Aiani			3,746
12	Velventos			3,549
13	Vermio			3,303
14	Dimitrios Ypsilantis			2,861
15	Kamvounia			2,076
16	Livadero			1,597
17	Agia Paraskevi			1,595
	Florina	Florina	1,924	54,109
1	Florina			17,500
2	Amyntaio			8,468
3	Meliti			6,909
4	Perasma			5,392
5	Filotas			4,442
6	Kato Kleines			3,787
7	Aetos			3,394
8	Prespes			1,781
9	Lechovo			1,183
Total	West Macedonia	Kozani	9,451	303,857^[4]