Kalamata
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Kalamata Καλαμάτα |
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Kalamata's promenade.
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 Kalamata
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Location within the region
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| Coordinates: 37°2′N 22°7′E / 37.033°N 22.117°ECoordinates: 37°2′N 22°7′E / 37.033°N 22.117°E | |
| Country | Greece |
| Administrative region | Peloponnese |
| Regional unit | Messenia |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Panagiotis Nikas (ND; since 29 December 2010) |
| Area | |
| • Municipality | 440.3 km2 (170.0 sq mi) |
| • Municipal unit | 253.3 km2 (97.8 sq mi) |
| Highest elevation | 21 m (69 ft) |
| Lowest elevation | 0 m (0 ft) |
| Population (2011) | |
| • Municipality | 69,849 |
| • Municipality density | 160/km2 (410/sq mi) |
| • Municipal unit | 62,409 |
| • Municipal unit density | 250/km2 (640/sq mi) |
| Community | |
| • Population | 54,567 (2011) |
| Time zone | EET (UTC+2) |
| • Summer (DST) | EEST (UTC+3) |
| Postal code | 241 00 |
| Area code(s) | 27210 |
| Vehicle registration | KM |
| Website | www.kalamata.gr |
Kalamata (Greek: Καλαμάτα Kalamáta) is the second most populous city of the Peloponnese peninsula in southern Greece and the largest city of the homonymous administrative region. The capital and chief port of the Messenia regional unit, it lies along the Nedon River at the head of the Messenian Gulf.
The 2011 census recorded 69,849 inhabitants for the wider Kalamata Municipality, of which 62,409 in the municipal unit of Kalamata proper. Kalamata is renowned as the land of the Kalamatianos dance and Kalamata olives.
The modern name Kalamáta is a corruption of the older name Καλάμαι, Kalámai, "reeds". The phonetic similarity of Kalamáta with the phrase "kalá mátia" ("good eyes") has led to various folk etymologies.
The municipality Kalamata was formed at the 2011 local government reform by the merger of the following 4 former municipalities, that became municipal units:
The municipality has an area of 440.313 km2, the municipal unit 253.279 km2.
The municipal unit of Kalamata is subdivided into the following communities (population according to the 2011 census and settlements within the district in brackets):
Municipal communities (population over 2,000)
Local communities (population under 2,000)
The province of Kalamata (Greek: Επαρχία Καλαμών) was one of the provinces of the Messenia Prefecture. Its territory corresponded with that of the current municipalities Kalamata and West Mani. It was abolished in 2006.
The history of Kalamata begins with Homer, who mentions Pharai (Φηραί), an ancient city built more or less where the Kalamata Castle stands today. It was believed that during ancient times the area that the city presently occupies was covered by the sea, but the proto-Greek and archaic period remains (Poseidon temple) that were unearthed at Akovitika region prove the opposite.
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Wikipedia