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Elliniko
View on WikipediaElliniko (Greek: Ελληνικό, meaning 'Hellenic' or 'Greek') is a coastal municipality in the Attica region and a southern suburban town in the Athens agglomeration in Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform, it has been part of the municipality of Elliniko-Argyroupoli, of which it is a municipal unit.[2] Elliniko is known for the former Hellinikon Olympic Complex, a temporary sporting complex building on the grounds of the former Ellinikon International Airport used for the 2004 Summer Olympics and the 2004 Summer Paralympics.
Key Information
Elliniko is the site of a major development project for coastal Athens beginning in 2020 and due for completion in 2026—the Hellenikon Metropolitan Park, consisting of luxury homes, hotels, a casino, a marina, shops, offices, and Greece's tallest buildings such as the Riviera Tower[3] and the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Athens, which will be the first integrated resort in Greece. [4]
History
[edit]In 1922 after the Greco-Turkish War, many refuges, especially from the Sürmene town of Pontus, settled in the northernmost area of Elliniko, which was subsequently named Sourmena (Σούρμενα). In 1947, as a sign of the United States' involvement in the Greek Civil War, the US Air Force established an air base in Elliniko, which continued operating until 1993.[5]
Geography
[edit]Elliniko is situated near the Saronic Gulf coast, 10 km (6.2 mi) south of Athens city centre, in the Athens Riviera. The municipality has an area of 7.127 km2 (2.752 sq mi).[6] The former airport is in the western part of the municipal unit, near the coast. Most of the residential area is in the eastern part, east of the former airport. The northern part of the airport has been converted to a sports complex. There are plans to convert the remaining part into a park.
Elliniko is well connected to the centre of Athens through a new line of the Athens metro (Elliniko station). The Athens Tram serves the coastal part of Elliniko.
Climate
[edit]According to the data provided by the Hellenic National Meteorological Service, Elliniko, like much of the southern suburbs of Athens, has an average annual temperature of 18.6 °C (65.5 °F) and receives 366.5 mm (14.43 in) of precipitation per year thus it marginally falls into the BSh hot semi-arid climate category with strong Mediterranean influences (Csa) according to the Köppen climate classification. The highest temperature recorded is 43.0 °C (109 °F) on August 3, 2021,[7] while the lowest is −4.2 °C (24.4 °F) on 18 February 2008.[8] The highest minimum temperature of 32.9 °C (91 °F) was recorded on July 26, 2023. [9] Fog is rare,[10] while thunderstorms occur sparsely throughout the year. Snowfall is not very common, though it occurs almost every year, but it rarely causes severe disruption to daily life.
| Climate data for Elliniko, coastal Athens (1955–2010), Extremes (1957–present), 28 m asl | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 22.4 (72.3) |
24.2 (75.6) |
27.0 (80.6) |
30.9 (87.6) |
35.6 (96.1) |
40.0 (104.0) |
42.2 (108.0) |
43.0 (109.4) |
37.2 (99.0) |
35.2 (95.4) |
28.6 (83.5) |
22.9 (73.2) |
43.0 (109.4) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 13.6 (56.5) |
14.1 (57.4) |
15.9 (60.6) |
19.6 (67.3) |
24.4 (75.9) |
29.2 (84.6) |
32.2 (90.0) |
32.2 (90.0) |
28.3 (82.9) |
23.4 (74.1) |
18.8 (65.8) |
15.1 (59.2) |
22.2 (72.0) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | 10.3 (50.5) |
10.6 (51.1) |
12.4 (54.3) |
16.1 (61.0) |
20.9 (69.6) |
25.6 (78.1) |
28.3 (82.9) |
28.2 (82.8) |
24.3 (75.7) |
19.6 (67.3) |
15.4 (59.7) |
11.9 (53.4) |
18.6 (65.5) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 7.0 (44.6) |
7.1 (44.8) |
8.5 (47.3) |
11.5 (52.7) |
15.8 (60.4) |
20.3 (68.5) |
23.0 (73.4) |
23.1 (73.6) |
19.6 (67.3) |
15.7 (60.3) |
12.0 (53.6) |
8.8 (47.8) |
14.4 (57.9) |
| Record low °C (°F) | −2.9 (26.8) |
−4.2 (24.4) |
−2.0 (28.4) |
0.6 (33.1) |
8.0 (46.4) |
11.4 (52.5) |
15.5 (59.9) |
16.0 (60.8) |
10.4 (50.7) |
3.0 (37.4) |
1.4 (34.5) |
−2.0 (28.4) |
−4.2 (24.4) |
| Average rainfall mm (inches) | 47.7 (1.88) |
38.5 (1.52) |
42.3 (1.67) |
25.5 (1.00) |
14.3 (0.56) |
5.4 (0.21) |
6.3 (0.25) |
6.2 (0.24) |
12.3 (0.48) |
45.9 (1.81) |
60.1 (2.37) |
62.0 (2.44) |
366.5 (14.43) |
| Average rainy days | 12.9 | 11.4 | 11.3 | 9.3 | 6.4 | 3.6 | 1.7 | 1.6 | 4.7 | 8.6 | 10.9 | 13.5 | 95.9 |
| Average relative humidity (%) | 69.3 | 68.0 | 65.9 | 62.2 | 58.2 | 51.8 | 46.6 | 46.8 | 54.0 | 62.6 | 69.2 | 70.4 | 60.4 |
| Mean monthly sunshine hours | 130.2 | 134.4 | 182.9 | 231.0 | 291.4 | 336.0 | 362.7 | 341.0 | 276.0 | 207.7 | 153.0 | 127.1 | 2,773.4 |
| Source 1: HNMS (1955–2010 normals)[11] | |||||||||||||
| Source 2: Deutscher Wetterdienst (Extremes 1961–1990),[12] Info Climat (Extremes 1991–present)[13][14] | |||||||||||||
| Climate data for Elliniko, 28 m asl (1991-2020) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 13.3 (55.9) |
14.1 (57.4) |
16.5 (61.7) |
20.3 (68.5) |
25.2 (77.4) |
30.4 (86.7) |
33.2 (91.8) |
33.5 (92.3) |
29.0 (84.2) |
23.9 (75.0) |
18.8 (65.8) |
14.6 (58.3) |
22.7 (72.9) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 6.9 (44.4) |
7.1 (44.8) |
8.8 (47.8) |
11.8 (53.2) |
16.1 (61.0) |
20.7 (69.3) |
23.5 (74.3) |
23.8 (74.8) |
20.1 (68.2) |
16.2 (61.2) |
12.1 (53.8) |
8.8 (47.8) |
14.7 (58.4) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 48.0 (1.89) |
44.2 (1.74) |
43.0 (1.69) |
27.6 (1.09) |
17.0 (0.67) |
10.0 (0.39) |
9.1 (0.36) |
3.3 (0.13) |
19.4 (0.76) |
34.2 (1.35) |
66.6 (2.62) |
60.4 (2.38) |
382.8 (15.07) |
| Source: Info Climat (Averages 1991–2020),[13] OGIMET[15] | |||||||||||||
Economy
[edit]Hellenic Imperial Airways had its head office in Elliniko.[16] The Greek Civil Aviation Authority also has its head office in Elliniko.[17] Elliniko is also home for the Greek national weather agency (ΕΜΥ).
Sports
[edit]Hellinikon Olympic Complex is located in Elliniko. It was built for the staging of the 2004 Summer Olympics and consists of five venues. Elliniko also houses the basketball club Elliniko-Sourmena B.C. with many achievements in women's basketball.
Historical population
[edit]| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 1981 | 11,498 |
| 1991 | 13,517 |
| 2001 | 16,740 |
| 2011 | 17,259 |
| 2021 | 16,715 |
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "Αποτελέσματα Απογραφής Πληθυσμού - Κατοικιών 2021, Μόνιμος Πληθυσμός κατά οικισμό" [Results of the 2021 Population - Housing Census, Permanent population by settlement] (in Greek). Hellenic Statistical Authority. 29 March 2024.
- ^ "ΦΕΚ B 1292/2010, Kallikratis reform municipalities" (in Greek). Government Gazette.
- ^ Kanagias, Christos (2022-08-10). "The permit has been issued for the Riviera Tower, the tallest building in Greece, to be erected at the Ellinikon by Lamda Development". The Ellinikon. Retrieved 2022-11-27.
- ^ Πισπιρίγκος, Γιάννης (2022-11-03). "Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Athens: Η κορωνίδα του Ελληνικού". Construction (in Greek). Retrieved 2022-11-27.
- ^ NouPou.gr (2021-03-20). "Η αμερικανική βάση του Ελληνικού και ο εμβληματικός υδατόπυργος της λεωφόρου Βουλιαγμένης". ΝΟΤΙΑ ΠΡΟΑΣΤΙΑ - www.noupou.gr (in Greek). Retrieved 2025-06-24.
- ^ "Population & housing census 2001 (incl. area and average elevation)" (PDF) (in Greek). National Statistical Service of Greece. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2015-09-21.
- ^ "16716: Athens (closed) Airport (Greece)". ogimet.com. OGIMET. 1 August 2021. Retrieved 2 August 2021.
- ^ "16716: Athens (closed) Airport (Greece)". ogimet.com. OGIMET. 1 August 2021. Retrieved 3 August 2021.
- ^ "HNMS". Archived from the original on 2023-07-27. Retrieved 9 May 2024.
- ^ "Ομίχλη στα νότια προάστια της Αττικής". News.gr. 2014-02-19. Retrieved 2023-06-13.
- ^ "Climatic Data for selected stations in Greece: Elliniko (Elliniko)". Archived from the original on 5 February 2021. Retrieved 5 Feb 2021.
- ^ "Klimatafel von Athen Flughafen (Hellinikon) / Griechenland" (PDF). Baseline climate means (1961–1990) from stations all over the world. Deutscher Wetterdienst. Archived (PDF) from the original on 12 June 2020. Retrieved 15 May 2020.
- ^ a b "Climatic Data for selected stations in Greece: Athens Airport". Archived from the original on 5 February 2021. Retrieved 15 May 2020.
- ^ Kapikian, Etienne [@EKMeteo] (9 January 2021). "Aussi 22.4°C #Athènes-Ellinikon record mensuel à la station" (Tweet) (in French). Archived from the original on 9 January 2021. Retrieved 10 January 2021 – via Twitter.
- ^ https://www.ogimet.com/ranking.phtml.en [bare URL]
- ^ "Contact Us Archived 2011-07-11 at the Wayback Machine." Hellenic Imperial Airways. Retrieved on 10 May 2011. "Athens / Greece Hellenic Imperial Airways (Head Offices) 22, Vouliagmenis Ave. 16777 Hellinikon Athens - Greece"
- ^ "Contact us Archived 2011-10-01 at the Wayback Machine." Civil Aviation Authority. Retrieved on 26 May 2011. "ADDRESS: 1, Vasileos Georgiou Av. HELLINIKO T.K. 160604" - Address in Greek Archived 2011-10-01 at the Wayback Machine: "ΔΙΕΥΘΥΝΣΗ : Βασ. Γεωργίου 1 Ελληνικό Τ.Κ. 16604"
External links
[edit]- Official website (in Greek)
Elliniko
View on GrokipediaHistory
Origins and Early Development
The Elliniko area, located in southern Attica, preserves archaeological evidence of prehistoric habitation from the Early Helladic period (c. 3200–2000 BC), particularly at the Agios Kosmas promontory, where excavations uncovered a coastal settlement with rectangular houses, cemeteries containing cist graves, terracotta figurines, and obsidian blades suggesting trade links to the Cycladic islands.[16] This site, dug by archaeologist Georgios Mylonas between 1929 and 1931, indicates a community reliant on fishing, agriculture, and maritime exchange, with additional traces of activity at nearby Kontopigado and the Pani hills.[16] During the Archaic and Classical periods, the region integrated into the Athenian polity following Cleisthenes' democratic reforms of 508–507 BC, which organized it into demes such as Halimous (in the Leontis tribe, represented by three bouleutai), Euonymos (ten bouleutai), and Aixone (Kekropis tribe).[16] Cemeteries dating to the 8th–7th centuries BC have been identified near the modern Tram Depot and Argyroupoli Metro station, while 5th-century BC references by Herodotus to Cape Kolias (modern Agios Kosmas) align with quarry and burial finds; by the 4th century BC, inscriptions like the Halimous decree and a mid-century tomb enclosure (relocated in 1965) attest to local administrative and funerary practices amid broader Attic rural life.[16] The area endured disruptions, including destruction by Sulla's Roman forces in 86 BC.[16] Settlement remained intermittent through the Byzantine era (4th–15th centuries AD), with early Christian basilicas on Agia Anna hill (5th–6th centuries) and the 12th-century Church of the Presentation of the Virgin in Trachones, alongside a 13th–15th-century hoard of 1,000 coins at Hasani signaling economic continuity.[16] Under Ottoman rule (15th–19th centuries), the landscape featured large agricultural estates (çifliks) at Trachones and Hasani— the latter named after Hasan Bey—with wall paintings in the post-Byzantine Church of Saints Kosmas and Damianos at Agios Kosmas dated to the 17th–19th centuries, and properties sold to Greeks by 1830 following independence.[16] Early 20th-century origins as a modern suburb stemmed from the 1922–1923 Greco-Turkish population exchange, which resettled Pontic Greeks from Asia Minor in makeshift wooden structures on former Ottoman lands, including Hasani and Sourmena, with families allocated roughly 22 stremmata (about 2.2 hectares) each.[16] The communities of Komninoi and Elliniko gained legal recognition via royal decrees published in the Official Gazette on July 6, 1929 (issue 221) and March 14, 1930 (issue 80), respectively, fostering initial infrastructure like restored churches (e.g., St. Paraskevi) and schools amid a predominantly rural setting.[16] Adjacent Kalamaki, incorporated into the area's early framework, originated similarly in 1923 as a refugee village. This refugee-driven nucleation preceded aviation-related changes, with the Ministry of Aviation established in 1929 and the State Aircraft Factory in nearby Faliro by 1925, though the terrain stayed agrarian until mid-decade expansions.[16]The Ellinikon Airport Era
The Ellinikon International Airport, initially established as Kalamaki Airfield, opened in 1938 to serve as Athens' primary aviation facility, replacing earlier sites amid growing demand for air travel in Greece.[17] Constructed on reclaimed coastal land south of the city center, approximately 7 kilometers from downtown Athens, it featured basic runways and hangars suited for the era's propeller-driven aircraft.[18] Early operations focused on domestic and limited international flights, supporting Greece's nascent commercial aviation under Olympic Airways and military needs.[19] During World War II, following the Axis invasion in April 1941, the airport was seized by German forces and repurposed as a Luftwaffe base for fighter and transport operations until the occupation ended in October 1944.[20] Post-liberation, it hosted Allied Greek, British, and American military units, transitioning in October 1945 to Hassani Air Base under U.S. Army Air Forces control for troop and supply transport in the Mediterranean theater.[19] By 1947, it evolved into Hellenikon Air Base, a key U.S. facility during the Cold War, accommodating squadrons for surveillance, logistics, and contingency operations until partial drawdowns in the 1960s and full U.S. closure of facilities in 1993.[21] [22] Commercial primacy emerged in the 1950s as military use waned, with the airport handling expanding passenger and cargo traffic amid Greece's post-war economic recovery and tourism boom.[18] Infrastructure grew incrementally, including the 1969 opening of the East Terminal designed by architect Eero Saarinen, which boosted capacity for international arrivals.[22] Peak operations in the 1980s and 1990s saw millions of annual passengers, but chronic issues mounted: outdated runways limited jet traffic, coastal proximity exacerbated noise pollution over urban areas, and security vulnerabilities—highlighted by incidents like hijackings—strained adequacy for modern standards.[23] These pressures culminated in the airport's decommissioning on March 28, 2001, with the final commercial flight, an Olympic Airways Boeing 737 to Thessaloniki, marking the end of 63 years of service; operations shifted to the new Athens International Airport at Spata to address capacity shortfalls projected to exceed 20 million passengers annually by the early 2000s.[24] Despite lingering U.S. logistical presence until 1993, the site's dual civil-military role had increasingly conflicted with residential expansion in Elliniko, contributing to local opposition over environmental impacts.[22] The era underscored the airport's foundational role in Greece's connectivity but revealed infrastructural limits that necessitated relocation for sustained growth.[17]Post-Airport Transition
Following the closure of Ellinikon International Airport on March 28, 2001, the 6.2 million square meter site transitioned into a state of prolonged abandonment, with much of the infrastructure left to deteriorate amid overgrown vegetation and structural decay.[18] The facility, which had handled up to 13.5 million passengers annually at its peak, saw minimal reuse initially, though portions were temporarily repurposed for the 2004 Athens Olympics, including as a taekwondo venue and athlete training areas.[17] Absent a comprehensive redevelopment strategy at the time of closure, the land remained largely idle for nearly two decades, serving occasional ad-hoc functions such as military storage or informal events, while environmental degradation and urban encroachment intensified.[25] Redevelopment proposals gained traction in the mid-2000s, with initial plans for a metropolitan park outlined around 2007, envisioning a 2.5 million square meter green space integrated with commercial and residential elements, but these were indefinitely postponed due to the onset of Greece's sovereign debt crisis in 2009, which constrained public financing and investor confidence.[26] A competitive tender process launched by the Hellenic Republic Asset Development Fund culminated in 2014 with the selection of Lamda Development as the lead consortium partner for "The Ellinikon" project, a €8 billion mixed-use initiative spanning residential towers, office spaces, retail, a marina, and Europe's largest coastal park at 2 million square meters.[27] Implementation faced extensive delays from 2014 onward, attributed to protracted permitting requirements, environmental impact assessments, judicial reviews challenging zoning approvals, and political shifts, including opposition from the SYRIZA-led government (2015–2019) amid broader economic austerity measures that prioritized fiscal restraint over large-scale private investments.[28] Progress accelerated following the 2019 election of a New Democracy administration, which streamlined regulatory hurdles; site clearance commenced on July 3, 2020, marking the symbolic start of earthworks and demolition of obsolete structures.[29] By 2022, Phase 1 construction—encompassing foundational infrastructure, roads, and initial utility networks at an estimated €3.6 billion—had begun across multiple sites, with ongoing works as of 2025 targeting first residential deliveries in 2027 and partial park openings in 2026, despite minor setbacks from updated building codes.[30][8]Geography
Location and Topography
Elliniko is a coastal suburb in the southern part of the Athens metropolitan area, within the Attica region of Greece. It lies along the Saronic Gulf, approximately 7 kilometers south of Athens city center, and forms part of the municipality of Elliniko-Argyroupoli. The area's geographical coordinates are approximately 37.89°N latitude and 23.74°E longitude.[31][32] The topography consists primarily of flat coastal plains typical of the broader Athens basin, which slopes gently toward the Aegean Sea. Elevations in Elliniko average around 52 meters above sea level, facilitating historical infrastructure like the former international airport. The terrain is low-lying and level, bordered by the sea to the south and transitioning to slightly undulating ground inland, without significant hills or rugged features within the suburb itself.[33][32][34]Climate
Elliniko features a hot-summer Mediterranean climate (Köppen Csa), with mild, rainy winters, hot and dry summers, and moderate transitional seasons.[35] The coastal location along the Saronic Gulf moderates temperatures, providing relatively low annual precipitation of approximately 365 mm, concentrated primarily from October to March.[35] [36] Average annual temperatures hover around 18 °C, with extremes rarely falling below 2 °C or exceeding 36 °C based on historical observations from the nearby Hellinikon meteorological station.[36] Summers, from June to August, are warm to hot with average highs reaching 32 °C in July and August, accompanied by low humidity and minimal rainfall (typically under 10 mm per month).[35] Winters, peaking in January, see average highs of 14 °C and lows around 7 °C, with December recording the highest monthly precipitation at 64 mm over about 14 rain days.[35] November is the wettest month in some datasets, averaging 55-64 mm.[35] [36] Sunshine is abundant year-round, with over 2,800 hours annually, and winds are generally light, peaking at 19 km/h in February.[36] The following table summarizes monthly climate normals from the World Meteorological Organization data for Athinai Hellinikon station:| Month | Mean Daily Min Temp (°C) | Mean Daily Max Temp (°C) | Mean Total Rainfall (mm) | Mean Rain Days |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7.0 | 13.6 | 48.3 | 13.2 |
| February | 7.1 | 14.1 | 40.9 | 11.8 |
| March | 8.4 | 15.7 | 39.7 | 11.9 |
| April | 11.4 | 19.4 | 26.0 | 9.7 |
| May | 15.8 | 24.1 | 15.2 | 6.8 |
| June | 20.1 | 28.7 | 5.6 | 3.7 |
| July | 22.8 | 31.8 | 5.2 | 1.6 |
| August | 22.8 | 31.7 | 7.0 | 1.8 |
| September | 19.6 | 28.2 | 9.6 | 3.9 |
| October | 15.6 | 23.2 | 47.8 | 8.9 |
| November | 12.0 | 18.8 | 55.4 | 11.3 |
| December | 8.8 | 15.2 | 64.1 | 13.7 |
Demographics
Current Population
The municipal unit of Elliniko recorded a population of 16,715 residents in the 2021 Population-Housing Census conducted by the Hellenic Statistical Authority (ELSTAT).[37] This figure encompasses the area's residential neighborhoods and excludes the adjacent Argyroupoli unit, which forms the larger Municipality of Elliniko-Argyroupoli with a total of 50,027 inhabitants as of the same census.[38] The 2021 count reflects a minor decline from 17,259 in 2011, consistent with Greece's national population decrease of 3.1% over the decade amid low birth rates and emigration.[37] No official updates beyond 2021 are available as of 2025, though the ongoing Ellinikon redevelopment may influence future demographics through new housing. Population density stands at approximately 2,345 persons per square kilometer across Elliniko's 7.127 km² area.[37]Historical Population Trends
The population of Elliniko grew steadily from the mid-20th century onward, reflecting suburban expansion from central Athens and economic activity tied to the nearby international airport, which operated from 1938 to 2001 and employed thousands.[1] This growth was part of broader urbanization trends in southern Attica, where post-World War II migration and industrial development drew residents to affordable housing near employment hubs.[39] Census records for the former Municipality of Elliniko show the following trends prior to its 2011 merger with Argyroupoli under the Kallikratis administrative reform:| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 1981 | 11,498 |
| 1991 | 13,517 |
| 2001 | 16,740 |
| 2011 | 17,259 |
