View source for Araxos

{{Short description|Village in the municipality of West Achaea in Achaea, Greece}}

{{Infobox Greek Dimos
| name              = Araxos
| name_local        = Άραξος
| type              = community
| image_skyline     = 
| caption_skyline   = 
| city_flag         = 
| city_seal         = 
| coordinates       = {{coord|38|10|N|21|25|E|format=dms|display=inline,title}}
| elevation_min     = 0
| elevation_max     = 289
| periph            = [[West Greece]]
| periphunit        = [[Achaea]]
| municipality      = [[West Achaea]]
| municunit         = [[Larissos]]
| established_c     = 
| population_as_of  = 2021
| pop_community     = 218
| area_community    = 
| postal_code       = 271 00
| area_code         = 26930
| licence           = 
| website           = 
}}

'''Araxos''' ({{langx|el|Άραξος}}, {{langx|la|Araxus}}) is a village and community in [[Larissos]] municipal unit, within [[West Achaea]], in northwestern [[Achaea]], [[Greece]]. It is located about 29 km southwest of [[Patras]]. The community of Araxos consists of the villages of Araxos, [[Akrotirio Araxos]], and Taxiarches. Araxos is located in the coastal plains near Cape Araxos, which separates the [[Gulf of Patras]] from the [[Ionian Sea]]. 

The [[Prokopos]] lagoon is to the southwest of the Araxos village and Kalogria (or ''Pappas'' or ''Araxos'') lagoon is to the north.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.visit-achaia.gr/en/suggestions/by-area/seaside-achaia/360-kalogria-strofylia-forest |title=Kalogria -Strofylia Forest |website=www.visit-achaia.gr |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180423033439/http://www.visit-achaia.gr/en/suggestions/by-area/seaside-achaia/360-kalogria-strofylia-forest |archive-date=2018-04-23}} </ref> Also to the north are the [[Mavra Vouna]] hills, with Cape Araxos as their northernmost point. Araxos is 4&nbsp;km west of [[Lakkopetra]], 1&nbsp;km west of [[Araxos Airport]], 5&nbsp;km north of [[Metochi, Larissos|Metochi]], and 13&nbsp;km west of [[Kato Achaia]].

==Strofilia Wetlands Natural Park==
The Strofilia Wetlands Natural Park and [[Kalogria beach|Kalogria Beach]] are on the northwest coast of the island. Strofilia is a {{cvt|22|km2}} national park within the [[Natura 2000]] network and is protected under the [[Ramsar Convention]].<ref>{{Natura 2000|num=GR2320001|desc=Standard Data Form}}</ref> The wetlands ecosystem occupies a coastal zone of about 22 km (14 mi) in length, with an average width of 1.5 km (0.93 mi).<ref>[]http://strofylianationalpark.gr/national-park-of-kotychi-strofylia-wetlands/general-information-of-the-region/ Official website of the Management Body of Kotychi and Strofylia Wetlands private legal entity</ref> The ecosystem includes the lagoons of ''Prokopos'' and ''Kalogria'' (or ''Pappas''), the Lamia marshes, and the forest of Strofilia (Natura 2000 codes: GR 232001 and GR233006). Strofilia's [[Stone pine]] forest is the most extensive Stone Pine forest in Greece, and one of the largest in Europe. Most of the forest consists of sand dune formations.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.wondergreece.gr/v1/en/Regions/Achaea_Prefecture/Nature/Forests|title = Strofilia forest}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.visitgreece.gr/en/nature/forests/strofilia_the_pines_extravagance|title = Strofilia the pines extravagance}}</ref>

==Historical population==
{| class="wikitable"
! Year !! Population community
|-
| 1981 || 595 
|-
| 1991 || 403 
|-
| 2001 || 632 
|-
| 2011 || 509
|-
| 2021 || 218
|}

==Climate==
{{Weather box
| location = Araxos (1955-2010) [[HNMS]]
| metric first = yes
| single line = yes
| Jan high C = 13.8
| Feb high C = 14.2
| Mar high C = 16.1
| Apr high C = 19.3
| May high C = 24.2
| Jun high C = 28.5
| Jul high C = 31.3
| Aug high C = 31.6
| Sep high C = 28.0
| Oct high C = 23.5
| Nov high C = 18.9
| Dec high C = 15.2
| Jan mean C = 10.2
| Feb mean C = 10.5
| Mar mean C = 12.3
| Apr mean C = 15.4
| May mean C = 20.0
| Jun mean C = 24.3
| Jul mean C = 26.9
| Aug mean C = 27.0
| Sep mean C = 23.4
| Oct mean C = 19.1
| Nov mean C = 14.8
| Dec mean C = 11.6
| Jan low C = 6.2
| Feb low C = 6.3
| Mar low C = 7.6
| Apr low C = 9.8
| May low C = 13.3
| Jun low C = 16.8
| Jul low C = 19.0
| Aug low C = 19.8
| Sep low C = 17.2
| Oct low C = 14.2
| Nov low C = 10.6
| Dec low C = 7.8
| precipitation colour = green
| Jan precipitation mm = 93.2
| Feb precipitation mm = 78.7
| Mar precipitation mm = 61.8
| Apr precipitation mm = 43.6
| May precipitation mm = 20.1
| Jun precipitation mm = 8.6
| Jul precipitation mm = 4.1
| Aug precipitation mm = 5.9
| Sep precipitation mm = 33.1
| Oct precipitation mm = 83.8
| Nov precipitation mm = 129.9
| Dec precipitation mm = 121.2
| Jan precipitation days = 13.7
| Feb precipitation days = 12.4
| Mar precipitation days = 11.6
| Apr precipitation days = 9.1
| May precipitation days = 6.0
| Jun precipitation days = 2.6
| Jul precipitation days = 0.9
| Aug precipitation days = 1.2
| Sep precipitation days = 5.1
| Oct precipitation days = 9.4
| Nov precipitation days = 12.6
| Dec precipitation days = 15.9
| Jan humidity = 74.2
| Feb humidity = 72.9
| Mar humidity = 72.4
| Apr humidity = 71.6
| May humidity = 68.5
| Jun humidity = 62.6
| Jul humidity = 59.0
| Aug humidity = 59.7
| Sep humidity = 65.7
| Oct humidity = 70.1
| Nov humidity = 76.1
| Dec humidity = 76.3
| source = HNMS (1955-2010 averages)<ref>{{cite web | url=http://newportal.hnms.gr/emy/en/climatology/climatology_city?perifereia=Sterea&poli=Tanagra | title=Climatic Data by City, HNMS, Hellenic National Meteorological Service }}</ref>
}}
==Araxos Air Base==
[[Image:HAF-116cw t.jpg|120px|left]]

An auxiliary military airfield was constructed in the Araxos area in 1939. Construction of a corresponding military base began around 1958, and the base became operational in 1962. Currently, the base is used by the [[116 Combat Wing]] of the [[Hellenic Air Force]], which consists of the 335 Bombing Squadron and the 336 Bombing Squadron, both equipped with F-16C/D Block 52+ aircraft.<ref>[https://www.haf.gr/en/structure/htaf/116-combat-wing/ HAF 116 Combat Wing]</ref> The runway is 3352&nbsp;m long, running in a south-to-north direction (18/36). The military installations are accessed from [[Lakkopetra]].

From 1978 to 2001, Araxos Air Base was also home to the [[NATO]] 345 Air Munitions Company. This unit was responsible for the U.S. [[B61 nuclear bomb]]s intended for delivery by Hellenic Air Force [[A-7H]] aircraft under NATO [[nuclear sharing]] arrangements. The nuclear weapons were stored in vaults inside the base's [[Hardened Aircraft Shelter]]s using the [[WS3 Weapon Storage and Security System]].<ref name="nrdc">{{Citation | title=U.S. Nuclear Weapons in Europe | url=http://www.nrdc.org/nuclear/euro/euro.pdf | author=Hans M. Kristensen | author-link=Hans M. Kristensen | date=February 2005 | publisher=[[Natural Resources Defense Council]] | accessdate=2006-05-23}}</ref>

===Araxos Airport===
[[Araxos Airport]] (IATA: GPA, ICAO: LGRX) is a civilian airport that shares its runway with the Araxos Air Base. It is the closest [[List of airports in Greece|airport]] to the large city of [[Patras]]. <ref>[http://www.airliners.gr/el/airports/step.php?id=9 Araxos Airport (in Greek)] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110630090317/http://www.airliners.gr/el/airports/step.php?id=9 |date=June 30, 2011 }}</ref>

==Gallery==
<gallery>
File:Λιμνοθάλασσα Καλογριάς - Kalogria Lagoon 01.jpg|Prokopos Lagoon.
File:Όχθη Λιμνοθάλασσας Καλογριάς - Kalogria Lagoon Shore.jpg|Kalogria (Prokopos) Lagoon Shore.
File:Λιμνοθάλασσα Καλογριάς Πανοραμική - Kalogria Lagoon Panorama.jpg|Prokopos Lagoon Panorama.
File:KALOGRIA (1).jpg|Partial panoramic view of [[Prokopos Lagoon]] within [[Strofylia Forrest]], near Araxos village, [[Kalogria Village]], [[Kalogria beach]] and [[Araxos Cape]] in Western [[Achaia]], [[Greece]].
File:KALOGRIA (2).jpg|Partial panoramic view of Prokopos Lagoon.
File:KALOGRIA (3).jpg|Partial panoramic view of Prokopos Lagoon.
File:KALOGRIA (5).jpg|Partial view of Prokopos Lagoon.
File:KALOGRIA (6).jpg|Partial view of Prokopos Lagoon.
File:KALOGRIA (7).jpg|Partial view of Prokopos Lagoon.
File:KALOGRIA (8).jpg|Partial view of Prokopos Lagoon.
File:KALOGRIA Panorama.jpg|Panoramic view of Prokopos Lagoon.
File:Βιότοπος Στροφυλιάς 01.jpg|Partial view of Prokopos Lagoon.
File:Βιότοπος Στροφυλιάς 011.jpg|Partial view of Prokopos Lagoon.
File:Βιότοπος Στροφυλιάς 021.jpg|Partial view of Prokopos Lagoon.
File:Βιότοπος Στροφυλιάς 031.jpg|Partial view of Prokopos Lagoon.
File:Βιότοπος Στροφυλιάς 041.jpg|Partial view of Prokopos Lagoon.
File:Βιότοπος Στροφυλιάς 051.jpg|Partial view of Prokopos Lagoon.
File:Βιότοπος Στροφυλιάς 061.jpg|Partial view of Prokopos Lagoon.
File:Βιότοπος Στροφυλιάς 06.jpg|Partial view of Prokopos Lagoon.
File:Βιότοπος Στροφυλιάς 071.jpg|Partial view of Prokopos Lagoon.
File:Βιότοπος Στροφυλιάς 081.jpg|The Umbrella pine (Pinus pinea) forest of Strofylia and the Prokopos lagoon.
File:Βιότοπος Στροφυλιάς 09.jpg|Partial view of Prokopos Lagoon.
File:Βιότοπος Στροφυλιάς 10.jpg|Partial view of Prokopos Lagoon.
File:Βιότοπος Στροφυλιάς 05.jpg|[[Halocnemum strobilaceum]] in Prokopos Lagoon.
File:Βιότοπος Στροφυλιάς 07.jpg|Partial view of Prokopos Lagoon with Halocnemum strobilaceum.
File:Ξωκλήσι Αγίου Πέτρου.jpg|Saint Peter's orthodox chapel surrounded by Halocnemum strobilaceum in Prokopos Lagoon.
</gallery>

==See also==
*[[Dymaean Wall]]
*[[List of settlements in Achaea]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
* [https://archive.today/20130217164511/http://www.alxd.gr/AirportGuide/araxos/araxosE.html Araxos Airport in Greek Airport Guide]

{{West Achaea div}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Populated places in Achaea]]
[[Category:West Achaea]]
[[Category:Military installations of Greece]]