NEW PROPONTID Α'S MUNICIPALITY PROFILE

The Municipality of New Propontida belongs in the Northern in 's Region in 's Perfection. It is constituted of 20 Communities (registered areas) and its territorial expansion comes to 371 km 2. The center of the Municipality is New Moudania in which the population is estimated to be 10.000 persons. The total Municipality population is 36.520 permanent inhabitants but during the summer season this number is increased almost up to 500.000. Our area is placed next to the sea and its coast length is about 60 km, 40 km from those are appropriate for swimming or any other tourist purposes, while the rest 20 km face corruption problems. The New Propontida area is mainly plain and agricultural where as the highest mountain is called “Goat”, is about 650 m. and is placed near the from which is separated by a 40-50 km distance. Most of the Communities have been created after the “Smirni's destruction” by refugees who came from Propontide area even though there was a local population in pre-existed villages. The population is considered to be half-urban and agricultural.

The main financial activities are: a) The tourism : Operate 44 hotels of about 4000 beds, and almost 1000 businesses are relevant the tourism. Recently has been constructed a tourist boat (marine-port) which can serve 103 sea boats.

b) The agriculture : The green olive which has earned the title of “Derive-Nomination- Product” as well as the amplicocks, the grains, the peanuts, the garden vegetables and also the grapes are constantly cultivated in a great number which is equivalent to a massive production.

c) The breeding : Includes the breeding of about 30.000 goats and sheeps, 500 cows and 40.000 pigs. It also concerns the operation of an animal-massacre-station. d) The merchant : is placed basically in the center of the Municipality as well as all along the coast during the summer season. e) The fishing : this economical activity is served by the port of New Moudania which is one of the largest in the Northern Greece and by four fishing stations.

In what concerns the education 50 primary schools, 6 high schools and 5 elementary schools operate in our area as well as a part of the Superior Technological Education.

In our Municipality exist an important number of archaeological and cultural places.

• The most representative sight-seeing is Petralona's Cave where the scalp of “Homo Erectus” has been discovered and has been considered to be one of the anciest in Europe. Equally important places of archaeological interest are the pre-historical area of Saint-Mama's, the ancient Potidea or Kassandra's wall. • As far as it concerns the civilization part the Foundation of “Justinian” has a remarkable presence and is placed in New Flogita Community. Another culture appeal is the Fishing Boat and Equipment Museum. In cultural events stand out the “Sea Festival” and the Saint-Mama's merchant celebration which are of immense importance.

Other important characteristics of New Propontide are:

• the existence of the water-land of Saint-Mama which is under the protection of “Natura 2000”, • the geothermical area of low temperature (about 42 degrees Celsius) in Eleohoria, • the illegal building with about 50.000 inhabitants in arbitrary across the Municipality.

As someone can take in his perception our Municipality has many different sides on which we can be based so as to cultivate a cooperation through programs or actions with other Municipalities in or out of Greece. But what we really aim to is to cooperate with Municipalities that have the same problems and needs with us which cause us many difficulties. These are:

• the water-lack throughout the whole Municipality area which is owned to the fact that our region is one of the poorest in water sources in Greece. In consequence, the manipulations concerned to the salt-removement or water- saving are areas of immediate and interest of our part. • the improvement of the next to sea zone belongs in our top priorities. • the collection and the recyclation of the solid and liquid rubbish is also a difficult problem to face. • the improvement of our geothermic fields. • the way to face the illegal building-construction. • the improvement of the water-land hydrobiotopos of Saint-Mama. • the tourism-product improvement. • the support of animal breeding. • the support of agriculture. • the support of fishing. • the unemployment-decrease.

Our Municipality is seeking for official collaborations so as to participate in common actions in the above activities.

CONTACT

Municipality of . Direction of Planning Organization and Informatics

Address: Gr Alexandrou 26, PC 63200 of Chalkidiki GREECE (city hall) tel: +030 2373350250 & +030 2373350248 fax: +030 2373065791 & +030 2373065792 e-mails: [email protected] , [email protected] , [email protected], [email protected]

Information: Papastergiou Asterios, Liozidou Maria, Mpekiaris Ioanis, Tsalas Vasilios.