Authorities in the region of Karditsa, central Greece, raised what they claim to be the largest Greek flag in history, at the valley beneath the Agrafa mountain range near Lake Plastira, on Sunday.
The flag, measuring 1,500 square meters (16,145 square feet), was raised by a balloon to commemorate 200 years since the revolutionary flag of the Greek War of Independence was first raised in the mountains of Agrafa on May 10, 1821.
The event was held under the auspices of the Greece 2021 Committee, which has been responsible for planning the celebration of the landmark anniversary.
Agrafa is a mountainous region in Evrytania and Karditsa regional units in mainland Greece, consisting mainly of small villages.
It is in the southernmost part of the Pindus range. The fiercely independent spirit of its people, known as Agrafiotes, is matched by the harsh and forbidding landscape.
The central Agrafiotis River Valley is surrounded on three sides by a steep 2,000-metre (6,561 foot) wall of mountains, and on its south side the river drains via a series of narrow and often impassable gorges into the man-made Lake Kremasta. The other great river of Agrafa, Tavropos (aka Megdovas), feeds two man-made lakes: Plastiras in the north and Kremasta in the south.
Agrafa was autonomous during the Ottoman Occupation
The Agrafa region is famous for its complete autonomy throughout the entire years of Ottoman occupation of central Greece.
The word ágrafa literally translates to unwritten, which means unregistered or uncharted — because the Ottomans were unable to conquer this region, the area and its population were not recorded in the Sultan’s tax register.
As a result the people were usually free to conduct their business and customs as they pleased, without Ottoman influence.
Most of the surrounding forests in the region were controlled by Greek Orthodox monasteries for many hundreds of years, even through the time of Ottoman rule.
The residents of the Agrafa purchased tracts of land from the monasteries hundreds of years ago and these forests remain in the communal hands of the current inhabitants.
Agrafa was a center of literacy during the 400 years of Ottoman rule. Unlike the majority of Greeks, many Agrafiotes can trace their family histories back for generations.
Idyllic Lake Plastira at Agrafa
Lake Plastira, located in central Greece, is known as “Little Switzerland” for its idyllic landscape that resembles the Swiss Alps.
The stunning blue lake is surrounded by snow-capped mountains and verdant pine forests, captivating visitors at any time of the year.
Found in the region of Karditsa, located at one of Greece’s highest altitudes, Lake Plastiras is a unique feature in the Greek landscape.
The pristine, icy waters of the artificial lake curve along the mountains and forests surrounding it, resembling dramatic fjords.
Hundreds of kilometers away from Greece’s urban centers of Athens and Thessaloniki, Plastiras is the perfect escape from bustling city life. The fresh mountain air and dramatic scenery are perfect for nature lovers looking to relax and explore the outdoors.
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