Arta (regional unit)

Aetolia-Acarnania (Greek: Αιτωλοακαρνανία, Aitoloakarnanía, Greek pronunciation: [etolo.akarnaˈni.a]) is one of the regional units of Greece. It is part of the geographic region of Central Greece and the administrative region of West Greece. A combination of the historical regions of Aetolia and Acarnania, it is the country's largest regional unit. Its capital is Missolonghi for historical reasons, with its biggest city and economic centre at Agrinio. The area is now connected with the Peloponnese peninsula via the Rio-Antirio Bridge. The surrounding regional units take in Arta in Epirus, a narrow length bordering Karditsa of Thessaly, Evrytania to the northeast, and Phocis to the east.

Arta (Greek: Άρτα) is a city in northwestern Greece and capital of the regional unit of Arta, which is part of Epirus region. The city was known in ancient times as Ambracia (Ancient Greek: Ἀμβρακία). Arta is known for the medieval bridge over the Arachthos River, as well as for its ancient sites from the era of Pyrrhus of Epirus and its well-preserved 13th-century castle. Arta's Byzantine history is reflected in its many Byzantine churches; perhaps the best known is the Panagia Paregoretissa (Mother of God the Consoling), built about 1290 by Despot Nikephoros I Komnenos Doukas.

The Arachthos (Greek: Άραχθος) is a river in the eastern Epirus region of Greece. Its source is in the Pindus mountains, near the town Metsovo (Ioannina regional unit). The Arachthos is 110 km (68 mi) long and its drainage area is 2,209 km (853 sq mi). Its upper course is known as Metsovitikos. From its confluence with the Dipotamos near the village of Batza it is called Arachthos. It flows towards the south, passing between the Athamanika and the Xerovouni mountains. Here it reaches the Plaka Bridge, the largest one-arch stone bridge in Greece. It enters the large Pournari Reservoir, in the Arta regional unit, which is about 18 km² and prevents flooding of the city of Arta and also supplies water to most of Epirus. The town of Peta is situated near the dam. Arta, about 8 km downstream of the dam, is the largest town on the river. Arta's historic landmark is the stone Bridge of Arta over the Arachthos. The river continues through the lowlands south of Arta, and finally empties into the Ambracian Gulf near Kommeno, 16 km southeast of Arta.

Xerovouni (Greek: Ξεροβούνι, also Ξηροβούνι Xirovouni) is a mountain in the southern part of the Epirus region, Greece. It covers the northeastern Preveza, the southern Ioannina and the northwestern Arta regional units. Its maximum elevation is 1,614 m. It is drained by the river Arachthos to the east and by the river Louros to the west. The nearest mountains are the Tomaros to the northwest and the Athamanika to the northeast. There are forests in the lower areas, the highest areas consist of dry grasslands.

The municipal unit Xirovouni, on the southeast side of the mountain, was named after the mountain. The nearest villages are Dafnoti to the east, Platanoussa to the northeast, Sklivani to the northwest and Anogeio to the southwest.

Plaka Bridge (Greek: Γεφύρι της Πλάκας, Gefýri tis Plákas) is a 19th-century stone one-arch bridge in Greece. It collapsed multiple times, starting in 1860, later in 1863 and most recently in 2015, it was later rebuilt in 2020 and still stands today.

It is located at the borders of Arta and Ioannina prefectures, above the waters of Arachthos River. Administratively, it belongs to the community of Plaka-Raftaneon. With its arch of 40 metres (130 ft) width and 17.61 m (57 ft 9 in) height, it is the largest one-arch bridge in Greece and the Balkans, and the third largest one-arch stone bridge in Europe. It also had two small auxiliary arches of 6 metres (20 ft) width on its two sides. It was considered "one of the most difficult, single-arch bridges to construct."

Peta (Greek: Πέτα) is a town and a former municipality in the Arta regional unit, Epirus, northwestern Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform, it is part of the municipality of Nikolaos Skoufas, of which it is the seat and a municipal unit. The municipal unit has an area of 105.571 km. Peta is located north of Amfilochia, northeast of Arta, south-southeast of Ioannina and east of Preveza. The Arachthos River and its reservoir lies to the northwest.

Kommeno (Greek: Κομμένο) is a village and a former community in the Arta regional unit, Epirus, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Nikolaos Skoufas, of which it is a municipal unit. The municipal unit has an area of 14.354 km. Population 524 (2021).