Aroanios

Aroanios (Greek: Αροάνιος; Ancient Greek: Ἀροάνιος; Latin: Aroanius) is a river in the southern part of Achaea, Greece and a tributary of Ladon river. The water comes from the carbonate mountain range Aroania (1500-2300m). After 12 km it meets Ladonas (near to Pangrataika Kalyvia) in the area of "Helongospilia” (Χελωνοσπηλιά)[1].

Aroanios
Location
CountryGreece
Physical characteristics
Source 
 • locationAroania
Mouth 
 • location
Ladon
 • coordinates
37°49′47″N 22°9′28″E
Length12km
Basin features
ProgressionLadon→ Alfeios→ Ionian Sea
View of the landscape near Aroanios' River, karst springs
Karst spring. After 600m: 41 small karst spring outlets make an enormous water amount
naturally watered forest of platanus trees in sand and gravel
Buildings, abandoned, are standing directly in the fragile nature

The river

The river has carried rock debris, soil and parts of trees and plants from the mountain range of Aroania (also known as Chelmos, Χελμός), to deposit it in the valley. This occurs mainly in the wet seasons of the Quaternary.[2] In addition, the Scree (rock fragments) from the surrounding mountains formed further layers of sediment in the valley.[3] The surface of the valley was gradually covered by layers of clayish, fertile soil. Valley and river achieved their modern form. People of the villages and small towns cultivated the ground. At the confluence of the small rivers Λαγκάδα, Ξηρόρεμα and Kleitoras, coming from the carbonate mountains in the west, their alluvial fan expanded the valley drastically. Here, on a hill in the widened valley, the largest town of the valley has developed: Kleitoria. The local residents turned the whole valley into a picturesque, beautiful Cultural landscape with fields, gardens and many trees. Its name is “Katsana”.[4]

Ancient Greece

Pausanias (110-180 AD) in his book “Description of Greece” (Ancient Greek: Ἑλλάδος Περιήγησις) already used the name “Aroanios” for the valley's river.[5] The preserved publications of Polybios (208-125 BC, “Historíai”) and of Pliny The Elder (AD 23-79, “Naturalis historia”) confirm Pausanias’ description, but are less precise and informative. Aroanios is the river's official name. But at some point in the past the river bore the name Katzanas or Katsanas (Κατσάνας, en: Katzánas). The cited ancient book authors also report on the antique city Cleitor as predecessor of modern Kleitoria - again Pausanias is the most precise. Wall remnants are still visible in the valley only 1300m west of the modern town.[6] At Kleitoria's position - in the middle of the broad valley - the three small river waters merge with River Aroanios.[7] The River Aroanios must not be confused with another, smaller river of the same name. That river flows generally southwest bound and pours into River Erymanthos at the community Psofida.

The karst springs

The karst springs of River Aroanios (for other karst springs on the Peloponnese see el:Καρστική πηγή) emerge in a small forest of „plane trees“ (580x30m) next to the village of Planitero (Achaea). The plane trees obviously benefit from the karst springs water. The very small outlets together issue a huge amount of karst water after a fairly short distance. They feed River Aroanios. A detailed international geological study lists 41 of these spring outlets.[8] According to this study the waters of the outlets emerge directly from local karstic rock layers, which outcrop here, or they rise from the loose Sedimentation (Silicate minerals, sand and gravel). Rainbow trout farms, restaurants and displays of tourist ware crowd the whole area. In summer the forest is part of an excursion for residents, who come in busses and private cars even from Patras, despite the long distance.

Environment and nature

The springs under the wooded area are an extraordinaryly valuable piece of nature - a true “Geotope“ - rare not only in Greece. It ought to be preserved and protected accordingly (see also the photo).[9] But the natural monument is dominated by to much commercial tourism. Verandas of restaurants, sale points, an abandoned buildings stand directly in the fragile nature[10] (see the photographic document).

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References
  1. See External Links: Χελωνοσπηλιά, village of Achaea, participated in the nation’s uprising 1821
  2. In this geological time span (2,5 million years to the present) of weathering, erosion and denudation of the mountain range, the river and the river valley have shaped their modern morphology. The river was probably much larger in those days, transporting large woody debris, sand, gravel, boulders and water in bigger quantities. See also the image: Image:Giswil06.JPG
  3. See also the photo: Image:Κορυφογραμμή Πίνδου Τζούρτζας.JPG
  4. See External Links: Map of Katsana, Achaea, the area of valley by toponavigator
  5. Pausanias, Description of Greece. Book 8, chapter 19 and chapter 21
  6. See the ruins of Cleitor: If you have a global application like ″Google earth″ on your local device, you can have the application focus on the following coordinates. You might prefer to have the focus by using a service within your browser. Coordinates of the ruins: 37°53′28.98″N 22°05′44.88″E. To see the ruins, you must go very close.
  7. For an excellent secondary source see “W. Smith, Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography, 1854.” Chunked English text
  8. A. Morfis, etal, p. 123
  9. The “Environmental Education Centre of Kleitoria-Akrata” at Kleitoria – together with about 60 other centers, Peloponnese and Greece – want to sensitize pupils and teachers for their environment.
  10. Water abundance in Greece within natural environment is rare. The place is attractive for greek tourists and those with commercial interests. But sustainability in the long run needs more regulation

See also

Literature
  • A. Morfis, Athens, H. Zojer, Graz. Karst Hydrogeology of the Central and Eastern Peloponnesus (Greece), Steirische Beiträge zur Hydrogeologie, Graz (Austria) 1986
  • Design and implementation, "Environmental Education Centre of Kleitoria - Akrata" (KEP). Raising the consciousness about crucial environmental problems for Greek pupils and teachers’. Kleitoria, (Achaea), 2004. See External Links.
  • William Smith, Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography. London 1854.
  • Pausanias, Description of Greece. English Translation by W.H.S. Jones and H.A. Ormerod, London 1918.
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