Messolongi Μεσολόγγι |
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View of the west part of the town
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Coordinates: 38°23′N 21°26′E / 38.383°N 21.433°ECoordinates: 38°23′N 21°26′E / 38.383°N 21.433°E | ||
Country | Greece | |
Administrative region | West Greece | |
Regional unit | Aetolia-Acarnania | |
Area | ||
• Municipality | 680.4 km2 (262.7 sq mi) | |
• Municipal unit | 280.2 km2 (108.2 sq mi) | |
Elevation | 5 m (16 ft) | |
Highest elevation | 9 m (30 ft) | |
Lowest elevation | 0 m (0 ft) | |
Population (2011) | ||
• Municipality | 34,416 | |
• Municipality density | 51/km2 (130/sq mi) | |
• Municipal unit | 18,482 | |
• Municipal unit density | 66/km2 (170/sq mi) | |
Time zone | EET (UTC+2) | |
• Summer (DST) | EEST (UTC+3) | |
Postal code | 302 00 | |
Area code(s) | 26310 | |
Vehicle registration | ΜΕ | |
Website | http://www.messolonghi.gr/ |
Missolonghi (Greek: Μεσολόγγι, Mesolongi, pronounced [mesoˈloɲɟi]) is a municipality of 34,416 people (according to the 2011 census) in western Greece. The town is the capital of Aetolia-Acarnania regional unit, and the seat of the municipality of Iera Polis Messolongiou (Sacred City of Missolonghi). Missolonghi is known as the site of a dramatic siege during the Greek War of Independence, and of the death of poet Lord Byron.
The town is located between the Acheloos and the Evinos rivers and has a port on the Gulf of Patras. It trades in fish, wine, and tobacco. The Arakynthos mountains lie to the northeast. The town is almost canalized but houses are within the gulf and the swamplands. The Messolonghi-Etoliko Lagoons complex lies to the west. In the ancient times, the land was part of the gulf.
The Greek National Road 5/E55 (Ioannina - Patras) passes north of Missolonghi. The town had a railway station on the line to Agrinio but this has been abandoned since the 1970s.
The local airport has a hard runway but no scheduled services.
The municipality Missolonghi (official name: Greek: Δήμος Ιεράς Πόλεως Μεσολογγίου) was formed at the 2011 local government reform by the merger of the following 3 former municipalities, that became municipal units:
The municipal unit Missolonghi is subdivided into 8 communities:
The municipality has an area of 680.372 km2, the municipal unit 280.168 km2.