Draft:Vlatos
Vlatos
Βλάτος | |
|---|---|
Village | |
  Vlatos Location within Greece | |
| Coordinates: 35°23′17″N 23°39′01″E / 35.38806°N 23.65028°E | |
| Country | Greece |
| Administrative region | Crete |
| Regional unit | Chania |
| Municipality | Kissamos |
| Elevation | 380 m (1,250 ft) |
| Population | |
• Total | 66 |
| Postal code | 734 00 |
| Area code | 28220 |
Vlatos (Greek: Βλάτος) is a village and the seat of the local community of the same name in the municipality of Kissamos, in the Chania regional unit of Crete, Greece. It lies approximately 54 km southwest of the city of Chania and about 19 km south of Kissamos (Kastelli), at an elevation of around 380 metres above sea level.[1]
Geography
[edit]Vlatos is situated in a green valley on the western slopes of the White Mountains range. The village is characterised by rich vegetation that includes olive groves, chestnut trees and Mediterranean maquis. It is traditionally divided into several neighbourhoods (synoikies), among them Archontika, Korakiana, Koutsounara and Bertiana.[1]
History
[edit]During the period of Venetian rule (13th–17th centuries), the land belonged to the Venetian noble family of Minotto (Minoto). In the 15th century the family settled serfs on the estate to cultivate the land, which gradually led to the formation of a permanent settlement. The village is recorded in the 1583 Venetian census compiled by Kastrofylakas under the name Vlatos, with a population of 52 inhabitants. It is also mentioned by the Venetian engineer Francesco Basilicata in 1630.[4][1]
In the late 19th century the village formed part of the municipality of Ennea Choria. In 1920 it briefly served as the seat of a rural municipality of the same name. From 1929 until the Kapodistrias administrative reform of 1997 it was the seat of an independent community. It was subsequently incorporated into the municipality of Inachori and, after the Kallikratis reform of 2011, into the enlarged municipality of Kissamos.[1]
Demographics
[edit]Like many mountain villages in Crete, Vlatos has experienced significant depopulation since the mid-20th century.
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 1900 | 255 |
| 1920 | 256 |
| 1928 | 283 |
| 1940 | 274 |
| 1951 | 216 |
| 1961 | 201 |
| 1971 | 183 |
| 1981 | 171 |
| 2001 | 131 |
| 2011 | 99 |
| 2021 | 66 [2][3] |
According to the 2021 census, the population consisted of 33 males and 31 females.[3]
Economy
[edit]The traditional economy of Vlatos is based on agriculture. The principal products are olive oil and chestnuts.[1][4]
Culture and landmarks
[edit]The main church of the village is dedicated to the Nativity of the Theotokos (Genethlion tis Theotokou). An older church dedicated to the Holy Trinity (Agia Triada) also exists in the village.
A local cultural association, the Cultural Society of Vlatos “New Horizons” (Πολιτιστικός Σύλλογος Βλάτου «Νέοι Ορίζοντες»), founded in 1972, maintains a small folklore museum and organises cultural activities.
In the vicinity of the village lies the Park of Peace (Parko Eirinis), a reforestation project established in the 1970s.
References
[edit]- 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Vlatos, Chania". Hellenica World. http://www.hellenicaworld.com/Greece/Geo/en/VlatosChania.html
- 1 2 Hellenic Statistical Authority (ELSTAT). 2021 Population-Housing Census.
- 1 2 3 "Vlátos (Dímos Kissámou)". City Population. https://www.citypopulation.de/en/greece/kriti/d%C3%ADmos_kiss%C3%A1mou/7405020401__vl%C3%A1tos/
- 1 2 Spanakis, Stergios (1993). Πόλεις και χωριά της Κρήτης στο πέρασμα των αιώνων [Cities and Villages of Crete Through the Ages], Vol. B. Heraklion: Γραφικές Τέχνες Γ. Δετοράκης. p. 192.
External links
[edit]Category:Populated places in Chania (regional unit) Category:Kissamos