Larissa (regional unit)

Larissa (Περιφερειακή ενότητα Λάρισας) is one of the regional units of Greece. It is part of the region of Thessaly. Its capital is the city of Larissa. Total population 269,151 (2021). Larissa is the second largest regional unit in Greece, exceeded only by Aetolia-Acarnania. It covers about one-third of Thessaly. It borders the regional units of Kozani to the northwest, Pieria to the northeast, the Aegean Sea to the east, Magnesia to the southeast, Phthiotis to the south, Karditsa to the southwest and Trikala to the west. The tallest mountain in Greece, Mount Olympus (2,917 m) is situated in the northeastern part of the regional unit. Mount Ossa is situated in the east, at the Aegean coast. The lower stretch of the river Pineios flows through the Vale of Tempe, between Olympus and Ossa. The northern part is covered with forests, but most of the regional unit is fertile land, the Thessalian Plain. Larissa has a mainly Mediterranean climate with hot summers and mild winters. Winter is harsher in the mountains areas, notably the north and Mount Olympus. Larissa is often the warmest area in Greece in summer and the coldest in winter. The highest temperature ever recorded was 45.4 °C (2000) and the coldest was -21.6 °C (1968). The city experiences very often temperatures over 40 °C. The regional unit Larissa is subdivided into 7 municipalities. These are (number as in the map in the infobox): Agia (2) Elassona (3) Farsala (7) Kileler (4) Larissa (Larisa, 1) Tempi (5) Tyrnavos (6) Larissa was created as a prefecture (Νομός Λάρισας) in 1882. As a part of the 2011 Kallikratis government reform, the regional unit Larissa was created out of the former prefecture Larissa. The prefecture had the same territory as the present regional unit. At the same time, the municipalities were reorganised, according to the table below. Province of Larissa (Larissa) Province of Tyrnavos (Tyrnavos) Province of Agia (Agia) Province of Elassona (Elassona) Province of Farsala (Farsala) Note: Provinces no longer hold any legal status in Greece, they were abolished in 2006.