| Araxos | |
| Name Local: | Άραξος |
| Type: | community |
| Coordinates: | 38.1667°N 46°W |
| Elevation Min: | 0 |
| Elevation Max: | 289 |
| Periph: | West Greece |
| Periphunit: | Achaea |
| Municipality: | West Achaea |
| Municunit: | Larissos |
| Population As Of: | 2021 |
| Pop Community: | 218 |
| Postal Code: | 271 00 |
| Area Code: | 26930 |
Araxos (Greek, Modern (1453-);: Άραξος, Latin: Araxus) is a village and community in the municipal unit of Larissos, within the municipality of West Achaea, in the northwestern part of Achaea, Greece. It is located approximately 29 km southwest of Patras. The community consists of the villages of Araxos, Akrotirio Araxos, and Taxiarches. Araxos is situated in the coastal plains near Cape Araxos, which separates the Gulf of Patras from the Ionian Sea.
Two lagoons are located near the village of Araxos: Prokopos to the southwest and Kalogria (or Pappas or Araxos) to the north.[1] The Mavra Vouna hills lie to the north, with Cape Araxos as their northernmost point. Araxos is 4 km west of Lakkopetra, 1 km west of Araxos Airport, 5 km north of Metochi, and 13 km west of Kato Achaia.
Located near Araxos are Kalogria beach and the Strofilia Wetlands Natural Park. Strofilia is a national park that is part of the Natura 2000 network and is protected under the Ramsar Convention. The wetlands ecosystem occupies a coastal zone of about 22 km (14 mi) in length, with an average width of 1.5 km (0.93 mi). It is a complex coastal ecosystem that includes the lagoons of Prokopos and Kalogria (or Pappas), the Lamia marshes, and the forest of Strofilia (Natura 2000 codes: GR 232001 and GR233006). The Stone pine (Pinus pinea) forest of Strofilia is the most extensive Stone Pine forest in all of Greece and one of the largest in Europe. Most of the area consists of sand dune formations.[2] [3]
| Year | Population community | |
|---|---|---|
| 1981 | 595 | |
| 1991 | 403 | |
| 2001 | 632 | |
| 2011 | 509 | |
| 2021 | 218 |
An auxiliary military airfield was constructed in the area in 1939. Construction of the base began around 1958, and it became operational in 1962. Currently, the base is used by the 116 Combat Wing of the Hellenic Air Force, which consists of the 335 Bombing Squadron and the 336 Bombing Squadron, both equipped with F-16C/D Block 52+ aircraft.[4] The runway is 3352 m long, running in a south-to-north direction (18/36). The military installations are accessed from Lakkopetra to the north.
From 1978 to 2001, Araxos Air Base was also home to the NATO 345 Air Munitions Company. This unit was responsible for the U.S. B61 nuclear bombs intended for delivery by Hellenic Air Force A-7H aircraft under NATO nuclear sharing arrangements. The nuclear weapons were stored in vaults inside the base's Hardened Aircraft Shelters using the WS3 Weapon Storage and Security System.
Araxos Airport (IATA: GPA, ICAO: LGRX) is a civilian airport that uses the military base's runway. It is the closest airport to the city of Patras. The airport serves a few civilian charter flights from northern Europe during the summer. The civil aviation installations are accessed from the south.[5]