Kounina

Kounina (Greek: Κουνινά) also with an i accented is a Greek village located about 10 to 15 km south of Aigio, west of Corinth and about 185 km west Athens, north-northwest of Kalavryta and about 45 east of Patras. The GR-9 (Patras - Pyrgos - Kyparissia is to the north and the GR-31 (Aigio - Pteri - Kalavryta) runs near the village. Kounina had a 2001 population of was 481 for the village and 504 or the municipal district. The population is ranked fourth in the prefecture and is before Mavriki after Valmitika. Kounina is also in the municipality of Aigio.

ubdivisions

*Agia Anna
*Pelekistra
*Petrovouni

Nearest places

*Mavriki, southwest
*Melissia, east
*Pteri of Fteri, south
*Dafnes, northwest
*Agia Anna
*Petrovouni

Population

Geography

Its geography are mare up of farmlands that covers about 80% the area and are mainly of fruits, vegetables, pastures and others, there are not as many groves to the east, the mountains that are mainly made up of forests and grasslands especially bushes are around the area and heavily to the west. A river flows to the east and another one 1 km west of the village centre that has a forested ravine. Its streets runs north to south with only about 8 streets in the village.

History

The village was ruled by the Ottoman Turks with some interruption by the Venetians in the mid to late-15th century and the mid to late-16th century. Kounina was finally Greek after the Greek War of Independence of 1821, right after the signing of the declaration of independence.

After World War II and the Greek Civil War, much of the population left for larger towns and cities especially the nearby Patras. The population declined since 1981.

Houses were stone-built until the 1950s and did not surpass modern-style homes until the 1980s. It was linked with pavement in the 1980s. Most of the homes are abandoned today.

Kounina was shattered by a forest fire that began on Wednesday July 25 and ended on July 28 and brought catastrophic fire to the area, flames were bursting as high as 30 m and smoke as high as 600 to 700 m. About 20 to 30% of the village wer burnt with some of their properties burnt. One fire was on a mountain slope that created a smoke enough to cover the area and darken the area tan-brown. Tens of fire trucks, helicopters and planes along with firefighters battled the fire in order to end. Several farms and crops were ruined. Some roads were shut down. The fire started in the afternoon hours and expanded to almost to burn about 80 to 90% of the area of Kounina. Residents were panicked on this wildfire. Hundreds to thousands of cattle were lost and about ten thousands trees were burnt down that created an economic and agricultural disaster that may take a couple of years to rebuilt. The flames were stopped by firefighters and headed for other villages in central and southern Aigialeia which later ended.

Information

Kounina has approximately 6 to 8 km of paved road and 15 km of gravel roads. Kounina also has approximately 6 to 8 km of hydro lines as well as phone lines.

Economy

Its main production are olives alond with fruits including watermelon, melon, figs and vegetables including corn, tomatoes, potatoes, onions, cucumbers and others as well as dairy, livestock and others in small numbers, much of the farlmands are mainly groves and vines. The majority of the population are based in agriculture as well as some other businesses.

Other

Kounina has a school, a church, and a square ("plateia"). Its nearest lyceum (middle school), a nearest school gymnasium (secondary school) and hospital are in Aigio.

External links

* [http://www.gtp.gr/LocPage.asp?id=3284 Kounina GTP Travel Pages]
*Map and aerial photos:
**Street map information from: [http://www.mapquest.com/maps/map.adp?latlongtype=decimal&latitude=38.1923&longitude=22.0123&zoom=6 Mapquest] , [http://local.live.com/map.aspx?&lats1=38.1923&longs=22.0123&alts1=35 LiveLocal] or [http://maps.google.com/maps?||=38.1923,21.062 Google] or [http://maps.yahoo.com/maps_result?lat=38.1923&lon=22.0123&mag=2 Yahoo! Maps]
**Satellite
http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=38.1923,22.0123&spn=0.11,0.18&t=k Google] or [http://virtualearth.msn.com/default.aspx?cp=38.1923|22.0123&5style=h&lvl=15&v=1 Microsoft Virtual Earth] - image now available
*Coordinates: coord|38|12|16|N|22|3|42|E|type:city(478)_region:GR

ee also

*List of settlements in the Achaea prefecture