Arachthos (river)

Bridge of Arta from the Ottoman period over the river Arachthos

Bridge of Arta

The Arachthos (Greek Άραχθος, also Artotinos or Potamos tis Artas, river of Arta ') is a river in the Epirus region of Greece. It rises south of Metsovo and northeast of Ioannina in Ioannina regional district in the Pindos Mountains ( Lakmos Massif ) and flows in a southwesterly direction to the Ionian Sea, in which he leads after 110 kilometers in the south Ambracian Gulf of Arta.

Course

The origin of the Arachthos is the northern edge of the Lakmos mountain range in the Regional District of Ioannina south of the town of Metsovo. The Springing here source river is called Metsovitikos. He also receives small tributaries from the western foothills of Mavrovouni east of Metsovo. The first Metsovitikos flows around the eponymous village of Metsovo in the south and in the north of the village Anilio in the bow and then turns north-northwest to the village of Votonosi. In Votonosi the Metsovitikos performs a course change by approximately 75 ° to the southwest and flows along the northern flank of the Lakmos massif in a narrow valley along the villages of Megalo and micro Peristeri on the eastern flank of the Driskos, a southern spur of the Mitsikeli massif to. At the level of the village of Ikaria Metsovitikos flows together with the river Dipotamos. From this confluence, the further course of the river is called Arachthos.

The Dipotamos can be regarded as a second source of the river Arachthos. It rises as Zagoritikos east of Pamvotida lake in Epirus on the northern edge of the Mitsikeli Massif, northwest of the village of Manasi and northeast of the city of Ioannina. The Zagoritikos runs immediately after its source in an east -run arc around the north-eastern foothills of the Massif and flows east Mitsikeli the southeast. It forms the eastern boundary of the Mitsikeli massif. The first influx of Zagoritikos is the Lakos. South of the village Miliotades near the village of Potamia Zagoritikos receives a from the northeast from Koukouroutzos Massif ( 1,785 m) coming inflow, the Varda. From the confluence of Varda and Zagoritikos of extending further to the southeast flow is referred to as Dipotamos. The Dipotamos sets its direction of flow continues to the southeast from its creation. Here he runs into frequent meanders through the valley created by him east and southeast of the Mitsikeli Massif and its southern spur the Driskos. A few kilometers later in Potamia downstream from the motorway crosses 2 (Europe Road 90) to Dipotoamos including its valley from the Driskos solid Coming with a 1,000 m long and 80 m high viaduct ( Arachthos Bridge ). A little further south crossing the National Road 6 from Ioannina to Metsovo the Dipotamos with a much smaller bridge. Further south, the Dipotamos flows with the coming together of east-northeast Metsovitikos in the amount of Ikaria village and subsequently forms the then designated as Arachthos river.

After the confluence of the Dipotamos the valley of Arachthos narrowed significantly. The river also changes its direction to the south and flows along the western flank of Lakmos massif with the foothills Kroukia ( 1,758 m) and Kria Vrysi ( 1,393 m) as the eastern flank of Driskos of the village Potamia in the community Pamvotida to. This is in the east southwest of the town Kotomista happens. The river changes its flow direction according to this passage in the same narrow valley to the southwest; before he receives from the north east of the small tributary Goura from the southwest flank of the Lakmos. The time now southwest extending flow limits the landscape of Chouliarochoria towards north. The eponymous village Chouliarades is passed to the west a few kilometers away, where the flow aligns its direction again to the south. The coming in of the valley between Chouliarades in the north and in the south Ambelochori from the East River Kalaritikos flows south of the village Asteritsa in the Arachthos. The course of the Kalaritikos marks the boundary between the Lakmos massif in the north and the Tzoumerka massif in the south. The western boundary of the Arachthos Valley forms the eastern flank of the Xerovouni massif.

A little further south in the course of Arachthos opens at an acute angle from north-northeast Coming of inflow Raftanitis in the Arachthos. Shortly before the opening of the Raftanitis there is a stone bridge dating from the Ottoman period ( Plaka Bridge ). The Arachthos sets its direction of flow continues to the south and happened at a slight westward arc to extend the village Koukoulia. Just north of the villages Kryoneri and Vathikambos flows from the east coming to a Goura in the Arachthos. Then the Arachthos swings in its course for a short distance south-southwest to the village of Trapezaki. Immediately south of the village Trapezaki the Arachthos expands greatly and merges into the northern foothills of the Pournari Reservoir. As with other reservoirs in Greece, especially in the Pindos Mountains, the course of the Pournari Reservoir follows the " former " river course of the Arachthos and describes a slight curve westward from north to south. In the center of this arc leads from the east from the west flank of the Ori Valtou Coming of the river Kalendini ( named after the village ). The inflow of Kalentinis is here from the village Melates also a part of the Pournari dam so that it viewed from the air the shape of a 90 ° counterclockwise rotated "T" receives. The dam of Pournari Lake is 4.5 km northeast of the town of Arta. This is also referred to as a dam Pournari I; later in the Arachthos there is a significantly smaller reservoir which Pournari II Both reservoirs or dams ( Pournari I and II) for power generation and for the extraction of water for irrigation in agriculture used in the plain of Arta.

After the second Pournari Dam of Arachthos flows into the plain of Arta and in an arc from north to south around the city of Arta (the ancient Amvrakia or Ambracia ) around. The apex of the arch is located in the west of Arta. Close this vertex crosses the bridge of Arta from the 16th century the Arachthos. Just north of this bridge from the Ottoman era there is the Bridge of the National Highway 5 (Ioannina - Arta Messolonghi ). In the northern part of the Arachthos arc around the town of Arta, the Ionia Odos crossing ( Highway 5 ) with a new bridge over the Arachthos. After the curved course around the city of Arta Arachthos flows with meanders through the south of the city center plane south-southeast toward the Gulf to Ambracian in which it flows near the village of Komeno in the form of a delta.

Economic importance of water

The Arachthos lies with its catchment area on the rainy west side of the Pindos Mountains in Greece. In this region, annual Regenmegen of more than 1,000 mm are registered: Arta 1,666 mm per year, further north in Plaka 1,614 mm and in Tsimovo 1,413 mm per year .. this wealth of water helps the Arachthos to, in comparison to other Greek rivers, high water levels; the Arachthos is therefore also carry water all year. The economic use of water Arachthos is mainly about the Pournari Reservoir ( Pournari I) 4.5 km north of Arta ( location of the dam ). The Pournari - lake covers an area of about 20 square kilometers and was completed in 1981. The pent-up waters of the lake in Pournari Arachthos is used for irrigation in agriculture and for electricity generation. With regard to the irrigation water of Pournari Lake to supply the level of Arta with an area of ​​45 km ² will be used.

The average flow of the Arachthos is 61 cubic meters per second, according to other sources 69.8 m² per second. The total water entry of Arachthos in the Ambracian Golf was 2.2 billion cubic meters of water per year in 1974. 1995-1997 measured the Greek Ministry of Agriculture a maximum annual amount of water of 3.3 billion cubic meters of water per year, the average was reported to be 1.9 billion cubic meters per year. These amounts of water also allow for the generation of electricity. The Pournari I and II power plants, each with 3 turbines provide 300 and 30 megawatt hours of electricity per year. These flow rates of 323 and 4.5 Hektokubikmeter water per hour are required.

In addition to the generation of electricity and water for the purpose of irrigation in agriculture is attributed to the dams by their regulation of flow rates, a protective effect against flooding.

History

The Arachthos was regarded in ancient times as the boundary between Hellas and Epirus. A border town was there Amvrakia ( Ambracia ), today's town of Arta. East of Arachthos was the ancient landscape Acarnania, which extended to the river Achelous. To the north and west of the Arachthos were the ancient landscapes Molossis, Chaonia and Thesprotis including the necessary strains.

The village Komeno at the mouth of Arachthos south of Arta was on August 16, 1943 during the German occupation of Greece during World War II scene of a massacre of a Mountain Division of the German Wehrmacht 317 inhabitants of the village.

Swell

• Information of the Greek Ministry of Agricultural Development and Food (in Greek).
• Lecture notes of the Department of Water Resources Engineering at the National Technical University of Athens ( NTUA; Εθνικό Μετσόβιο Πολυτεχνείο ) (in Greek).