AETOLIA AND ACARNANIA

Modern Greek Aitola Kai Akarnana, noms (department) in west central Greece, with an area of 2,103 sq mi (5,447 sq km); the capital of the department is Mesolngion on the Patraks Klpos (gulf) in Aetolia. The noms produces tobacco, wheat, oats, wine, and caviar; some livestock is raised. Its chief centres are Agrnion, Mesolngion, Amfilokha, and Nvpaktos, the last at the mouth of the Gulf of Corinth. Most of Acarnania is a large, irregular peninsula, the base being formed by a line of lakes and lagoons from Amfilokha on the Amvrakiks Klpos (ancient Ambracia), its northern limit, to Mesolngion; the western limit is the Ionian Sea, along which the barren, limestone Akarnanik ri (mountains) predominate. In ancient Greece the Achelous River was the boundary with Aetolia; today its fertile basin, together with that of the vinos Potams (river), is the agricultural and population centre of the noms, hinging on Agrnion and Mesolngion. Lmni (lake) Trikhons supports a fishing (caviar) industry. In contrast, northern and eastern Aetolia is a complex of almost barren limestone peaks rising in the frontier ranges of Timfrists, Oxi, and Vardhosia to more than 7,000 ft (2,100 m); but agriculture is supported. Pop. (1981) noms, 219,764.