West Macedonia Περιφέρεια Δυτικής Μακεδονίας
—  Region of Greece  —
Flag
Coordinates: 40°24′N 21°30′E / 40.4°N 21.5°E / 40.4; 21.5Coordinates: 40°24′N 21°30′E / 40.4°N 21.5°E / 40.4; 21.5
Country	Greece
Capital	Kozani
Regional units	List Florina Grevena Kastoria Kozani
Government
• Regional governor	Georgios Dakis (ND)
Area
• Total	9,451 km2 (3,649 sq mi)
Population (2005)
• Total	303,857
• Density	32/km2 (83/sq mi)
ISO 3166 code	GR-C
Website	www.pdm.gov.gr

West Macedonia is one of the thirteen regions of Greece, consisting of the western part of Greek Macedonia. It is divided into the regional units of Florina, Grevena, Kastoria, and Kozani.

Geography[link]

The region of West Macedonia is situated in north-western Greece, bordering with the regions of Central Macedonia (east), Thessaly (south), Epirus (west), and bounded to the north at the international borders of Greece with the Republic of Macedonia (Bitola region) and Albania (Korçë County).

Although it covers a total surface of 9,451 km² (3,649 sq mi) (7,2% of country’s total), it has a total population of 302,892 inhabitants (2.9% of the country’s total), thus it is a low-density populated Region (32 per km², as compared to the country’s 79.7 relevant figure). This is mainly due to the mountainous nature of the Region, as 82% of the total surface are mountainous and semi-mountainous areas. This is also reflected in the population distribution, as the major part of the population (56%) lives in rural areas. Capital of the region is Kozani with 47,451 inhabitants. Other main towns are Ptolemaida (32,775), Grevena (16,704), Florina (14,318) and Kastoria (13,959).

Economy[link]

The Region has one operational Industrial Area in Florina and another one under construction in Kozani. The secondary sector is very important for the Regional economy, mainly due to the mining activities, the production of electric power (70% of country’s total power is produced in the Region) and the fur-leather sector. However, “soft” structures have not followed the general improvement of heavy infrastructures, a situation that has to be remedied, in order to achieve an overall higher economic development of the Region. The R&D services are at a rather low level: only 3,5% of the country’s total research foundations are situated in the Region. Among them, the Technological Educational Institute plays an important role in supporting the regional research and educational efforts. However, an enhanced interaction with SME’s will be a crucial factor, in order to improve the productivity and the added value of products and services generated in the Region of Western Macedonia. Some of its more famous products are marbles, Saffron (krokos Kozanis), fruits, local wines (Kozani, Amyntaio), furs (Kastoria, Siatista) and specialized arts and crafts industry.

The Egnatia motorway via Egnatia (Trans – European Network) that crosses the Region, along with its two vertical National Roads, form a network that dramatically improves the transport conditions in the Region and alter its traditional “isolation” image, mainly due to its mountainous landscape. On the other hand, the railroad network is insufficient and the two airports (Kozani and Kastoria) can only serve small passenger planes. The telecommunication network has drastically improved over the last decade, providing the regional population with adequate services and modern facilities.

The last years the region is being developed in tourism mainly on winter. It is the only Greek region without sea coast, but on the other side there are a lot of lakes, mountains, picturesque villages and two big ski centers in Florina (Vigla) and Grevena (Vasilitsa) and one other under construction in Kozani (Velvendos).

The administrative building of West Macedonia region is located in Zone of Alternate Urban Planning (ZEP) in the city of Kozani.

Administration[link]

The administrative division of the West Macedonia region in municipalities. In shades of yellow, the former Kastoria Prefecture, in red, the Grevena Prefecture, in blue, the Kozani Prefecture, and in green, the Florina Prefecture

The West Macedonia region was established in the 1987 administrative reform, comprising the prefectures of Kastoria, Grevena, Kozani and Florina.

With the 2010 Kallikratis Programme (Act 3852/2010), its powers and authority were redefined and extended. The region is based at Kozani and is divided into four regional units (the pre-Kallikratis prefectures), which are further subdivided into 12 municipalities (down from 61 pre-Kalikratis local administrative units). Along with Epirus it is supervised by the Decentralized Administration of Epirus and West Macedonia based at Ioannina.

The region's governor is, since 1 January 2011, Konstantinos Dakis, who was elected in the November 2010 local administration elections for the New Democracy party.

Demographics[link]

The administrative building of West Macedonia region in Kozani

According to the 2001 census,^[1] the population of West Macedonia was 303,857 people. Today, the region has a mixed population of Greeks and Slavophone Greeks (12% of the population). The former are mainly concentrated in the towns Florina, Kastoria and Ptolemaida.^[2][3] Other smaller communities include Aromanians and Arvanites.

Ptolemaida.

West Macedonia. The bridge over the Polyfytos artificial lake of the river Aliakmonas in Kozani Prefecture.

The community of Nymfaio in Florina Prefecture.

The lake Orestiada in Kastoria.

Neoclassical houses at the shoreline of Sakoulevas river, Florina.

Georgios Lassanis mansion in Kozani.

The biggest towns in each prefecture, according to the census of 2001 (only towns with population more than 1,000 recorded):

Education[link]

The University of Western Macedonia and the technological faculties help in the intellectual growth of region. There is a big number of students who's studying main in the Pedagogic Department and in Department of Balkan study of the University in Florina and in the Department of Energy Management of the University and in Technological Educational Institute of Western Macedonia in Kozani.

Media[link]

Television channels[link]

• West channel - Kozani
• TOP channel - Kozani
• Kanali 28 - Grevena
• TRM - Grevena
• Flash TV - Kastoria/Kozani
• Dyktio - kastoria

Gallery[link]

• 

  Florina

• 

  Kastoria

• 

  Ancient Macedonian Grave in Eordaia

• 

  Aghios Nikolaos Clock Tower in Kozani

• 

  Village of Agios Germanos-Prespa

• Pisoderi.jpg

  Vigla - Pissoderi ski resort in Florina

References[link]

External links[link]

• West Macedonia Homepage

v t e Administrative division of the West Macedonia Region Area: 9,451 km² • Population: 301,522 (2001) • Capital: Kozani Regional unit of Florina Amyntaio • Florina • Prespes Regional unit of Grevena Deskati • Grevena Regional unit of Kastoria Kastoria • Nestorio • Orestida Regional unit of Kozani Eordaia • Kozani • Servia-Velventos • Voio Regional governor: Konstantinos Dakis • Website: www.pdm.gov.gr

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v t e Administrative regions of Greece Attica • Central Greece • Central Macedonia • Crete • East Macedonia and Thrace • Epirus • Ionian Islands • North Aegean • Peloponnese • South Aegean • Thessaly • West Greece • West Macedonia