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Laconia (ancient region)

Laconia
Περιφερειακή ενότητα
Λακωνίας
Regional unit
Municipalities of Laconia
Municipalities of Laconia
Laconia within Greece
Laconia within Greece
Coordinates: 36°55′N 22°40′E / 36.917°N 22.667°E / 36.917; 22.667Coordinates: 36°55′N 22°40′E / 36.917°N 22.667°E / 36.917; 22.667
Country Greece
Region Peloponnese
Capital Sparta
Area
 • Total 3,636 km2 (1,404 sq mi)
Population (2011)
 • Total 89,138
 • Density 25/km2 (63/sq mi)
Postal codes 23x xx
Area codes 273x0
ISO 3166 code GR-16
Car plates ΑΚ
Website www.lakonia.gr

Laconia (Greek: Λακωνία), also known as Lacedaemonia, is a region in the southeastern part of the Peloponnese peninsula. Its administrative capital is Sparta. The word laconic is derived from the name of the region by analogy—to speak in a concise way, as the Spartans were reputed by the Athenians to do.

Laconia is bordered by Messenia to the west and Arcadia to the north and is surrounded by the Myrtoan Sea to the east and by the Laconian Gulf and the Mediterranean Sea to the south. It encompasses Cape Malea and Cape Tainaron and a large part of the Mani Peninsula. The islands of Kythira and Antikythera lie to the south, but they administratively belong to the Attica regional unit of islands. The island, Elafonisos, situated between the Laconian mainland and Kythira, is part of Laconia.

The Evrotas is the longest river in the prefecture. The valley of the Evrotas is predominantly an agricultural region that contains many citrus groves, olive groves, and pasture lands. It is the location of the largest orange production in the Peloponnese and probably in all of Greece. Lakonia, a brand of orange juice, is based in Amykles.

The main mountain ranges are the Taygetus (2,407 m) in the west and the Parnon (1,961 m) in the northeast. Taygetus, known as Pentadaktylos (five-fingers) throughout the Middle Ages, is west of Sparta and the Evrotas valley. It is the highest mountain in Laconia and the Peloponnese and is mostly covered with pine trees. Two roads join the Messenia and Laconia prefectures: one is a tortuous mountain pass through Taygetus and the other bypasses the mountain via the Mani district to the south.


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