Epirus (region)

Epirus is a traditional and modern area in northwestern Greece. It shares borders with Western Macedonia and Thessaly to the east, West Greece to the south, the Ionian Sea and Ionian Islands to the west, and Albania to the north. The region covers about 9,200 km² (3,600 sq mi).

Epirus is part of a larger historical area that includes parts of both modern Albania and Greece, but most of it lies within Greece today. This area has been important for its culture, history, and natural beauty for many years.

Geography and ecology

Greek Epirus is a rugged and mountainous area. It includes the lands of the ancient Molossians, Thesprotians, and Chaonians, with most of the Chaonian land lying in Southern Albania. The region is filled with tall mountain ridges that are part of the Dinaric Alps. The highest point is Mount Smolikas, reaching 2,637 metres (8,652 feet) above sea level. The Pindus Mountains run along the eastern edge, separating Epirus from Macedonia and Thessaly. Because of the winds from the Ionian Sea, Epirus receives more rain than any other part of Greece.

Lake Pamvotis with the Ioannina Island

The Vikos-Aoos and Pindus National Parks are located in the Ioannina Prefecture. These parks are home to many different plants and animals. The climate in Epirus is mostly alpine, with forests of coniferous trees. The wildlife here is rich and includes bears, wolves, foxes, deer, and lynxes.

Administration

The Epirus Region, as it is known today, started in 1987 and was split into smaller areas called prefectures. In 2011, Greece changed its local government system. Instead of prefectures, it now uses regional units and fewer municipalities.

Today, Epirus has four regional units: Thesprotia, Ioannina, Arta, and Preveza. The leader of the region is Alexandros Kachrimanis, who was chosen by voters in 2010 and again in 2014 and 2019.

Regional Unit	Municipality	Population (2011)	Population (2021)	Seat
Ioannina	Ioannina	112,486	113,094	Ioannina
Ioannina	Konitsa	6,362	5,325	Konitsa
Ioannina	Pogoni	8,960	6,859	Kalpaki
Ioannina	Zagori	3,724	3,384	Asprangeloi
Ioannina	Metsovo	6,196	5,429	Metsovo
Ioannina	Zitsa	14,766	13,630	Eleousa
Ioannina	North Tzoumerka	5,714	5,075	Pramanta
Ioannina	Dodoni	9,693	7,258	Agia Kyriaki
Arta	Arta	43,166	41,633	Arta
Arta	Central Tzoumerka	6,178	5,562	Vourgareli
Arta	Nikolaos Skoufas	12,753	11,411	Peta
Arta	Georgios Karaiskakis	5,780	5,321	Ano Kalentini
Preveza	Preveza	31,733	30,893	Preveza
Preveza	Ziros	13,892	13,071	Filippiada
Preveza	Parga	11,866	10,771	Kanallaki
Thesprotia	Igoumenitsa	25,814	25,709	Igoumenitsa
Thesprotia	Souli	10,063	8,767	Paramythia
Thesprotia	Filiates	7,710	6,351	Filiates

Communities

Street of Paramythia

Municipalities

Syvota

Municipal units

Economy

Epirus has rugged land, making farming hard. Raising sheep and goats has been very important, providing much of the meat in Greece, though it is decreasing. Tobacco is grown near Ioannina, and there is some farming and fishing, but most food comes from other parts of Greece. The area is known for its famous dairy brands that make feta cheese and other products. Tourism, especially eco-tourism, is also important. People visit to enjoy the natural beauty, traditional villages, and local way of life.

The value of goods and services made in Epirus was €4.1 billion in 2018, which was 2.2% of all of Greece’s economy. The amount each person could buy with their money was €14,700, which is about half of the average in the European Union. This makes Epirus one of the poorer areas in Greece and the EU.

Demographics

Around 320,000 people live in Epirus. It is the least populated of the 13 regions of Greece. This is because of wars in the past and many people leaving due to tough economic times. The biggest city is Ioannina, where about a third of the people live. Most people are Greeks, with some Aromanians and Arvanites. The population has gotten smaller by 17,313 people between 2011 and 2021.

The border between Greece and Albania set in 1913 caused some villages with Albanian people to be on the Greek side, and some with Greek people to be in Northern Epirus, now part of Albania. In the past, the area of Thesprotia had a small group of people from Albania, but after some difficult times, there were very few left.

History

Main articles: Epirus (ancient state), Molossians, Thesprotians, Despotate of Epirus, and Epirus § History

Epirus has a long and interesting history. In ancient times, it was home to several groups of people, including the Molossians and Thesprotians. Later, the area became known as the Despotate of Epirus, which was an important part of the region’s past. Today, Epirus is remembered for its rich cultural and historical legacy.