Perachora

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Statistics
Prefecture:	Corinthia
Municipality:	Loutraki-Perachoras
Population: (1991) - Total - Density - Rank	1,296
Elevation: -lowest: -centre:	Gulf of Corinth 300 m northern part
Postal code:	281 00
Area/distance code:	11-(00)30-26710
Car designation:	`KP`

Perachora, also Perahora or Perakhora (Greek: Περαχώρα) is an inland settlement in the Loutraki-Perachoras municipality of the Corinthia prefecture in the periphery of Peloponnese in Greece. It is located about 7 km NW of the town of Loutraki in a hilly environment surrounded by higher elevation of the Geraneia mountains. Officially it shares the seat of the municipality together with Loutraki. Perachora's name is a transformation of the phrase "Peraia Hora" meaning in Greek "the land on the other side" of Isthmus of Corinth, (the modern times Corinth Canal). While other side for Perachora is the (geographically opposite) ancient city of Corinth. Perachora is having a population of about 1,200 inh. and it is built at 300 metres above sea level. The village is built amphitheatrically on the surrounding hills having a beautiful panoramic view at the Corinthian Gulf in the SW and the Limni Vouliagmenis, a coastal settlement next to a wonderful blue lagoon in the West.

The rocky cape Heraion with its beautiful stone built lighthouse together with the ancient temple of Hera Limenia the Heraion, is at the west approaches right next to the Limni Vouliagmenis lagoon. The ancient city of Oinoi is today a small coastal settlement named Schinos. In the lagoon area the epic movie "Lion of Sparta" aka "The 300 Spartans" was filmed in 1962.

The area around the village is a typically agricultural mediterranean scenery whith the green-silver olive trees being the single most important crop. Extended pinetree forests exist in some of the surrounding mountains sometimes reaching salt water at the coastline. Famous local products include the virgin olive oil and the natural pinetrees resin.