Voutsaras, Ioannina
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Voutsaras Βουτσαράς |
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 Voutsaras
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| Coordinates: 39°40′N 20°35′E / 39.667°N 20.583°ECoordinates: 39°40′N 20°35′E / 39.667°N 20.583°E | |
| Country | Greece |
| Administrative region | Epirus |
| Regional unit | Ioannina |
| Municipality | Zitsa |
| Municipal unit | Molossoi |
| Community | |
| • Population | 105 (2011) |
| Time zone | EET (UTC+2) |
| • Summer (DST) | EEST (UTC+3) |
| Vehicle registration | ΙΝ |
Voutsaras (Greek: Βουτσαράς, local dialect: Μπτσαρά Btsará) is a village in the municipal unit of Molossoi, Ioannina regional unit, Greece. It was the seat of the former municipality Molossoi. In 2011 its population was 105. The Greek National Road 6 (Volos - Larissa - Ioannina - Igoumenitsa) runs through Voutsaras. Voutsaras is 4 km northeast of Polydoro, 23 km west of Ioannina and 34 km northeast of Igoumenitsa.
Much of the area around Voutsaras is mountainous and forested. The forests around the city are populated by a wide range of wildlife, such as bears, wolves, hares, higher primates and deer. The population of wild boar and squirrels has been in decline for a number of years, as a result of extensive hunting. Wildlife conservation groups have been putting pressure on local and regional government to protect the dwindling populations of these species, but these pressures are being resisted, as hunting forms a substantial part of the local diet, along with roots and locally grown food such as kopria. The Thyamis River flows three kilometers to the north. There is a small lake (xhavouza) near the village, through which the river flows. The xhavouza is used as a dumping site for septic tanks from houses in Voutsaras and other cities in the Molossoi municipality, as the untreated water can then be washed away by the river. According to local legend, the xhavouza is the place where water nymphs used to wash their hair, and onlookers were turned to stone.
An architectural pattern typical for the village consists of a two-floor house: the top floor is fully walled and serves as the residential area for one or more families, whereas the ground floor is used for housing livestock (goats, sheep, swine). Less wealthy families, who cannot afford a two-floor house share living quarters with the livestock. There are plans to construct centralised plumbing facilities for the disposal of sewage in the near future, so as to replace the current practice of using septic tanks which drain in the nearby river Thyamis.
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Wikipedia