The Arachthos () is a

river A river is a natural stream of fresh water that flows on land or inside Subterranean river, caves towards another body of water at a lower elevation, such as an ocean, lake, or another river. A river may run dry before reaching the end of ...

in the eastern

Epirus Epirus () is a Region#Geographical regions, geographical and historical region, historical region in southeastern Europe, now shared between Greece and Albania. It lies between the Pindus Mountains and the Ionian Sea, stretching from the Bay ...

region of

Greece Greece, officially the Hellenic Republic, is a country in Southeast Europe. Located on the southern tip of the Balkan peninsula, it shares land borders with Albania to the northwest, North Macedonia and Bulgaria to the north, and Turkey to th ...

. Its source is in the

Pindus The Pindus (also Pindos or Pindhos; ; ; ) is a mountain range located in Northern Greece and Southern Albania. It is roughly long, with a maximum elevation of (Smolikas, Mount Smolikas). Because it runs along the border of Thessaly and Epiru ...

mountains, near the town

Metsovo Metsovo (; ) is a town in Epirus (region), Epirus, in the mountains of Pindus in northern Greece, between Ioannina to the west and Meteora to the east. The largest centre of Aromanians, Aromanian (Vlach) life in Greece, Metsovo is a large regio ...

( Ioannina regional unit). The Arachthos is long and its drainage area is . 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 Athamanika or Tzoumerka ( Greek: Αθαμανικά or Τζουμέρκα) is a mountain range in northwestern Greece, part of the wider Pindus mountain range. Its highest point is the mountain Kakarditsa, at 2,429 m. Its length is approximately ...

and the

Xerovouni Xerovouni (, also Ξηροβούνι ''Xirovouni'') is a mountain in the southern part of the Epirus region, Greece. It covers the northeastern Preveza Preveza (, ) is a city in the region of Epirus (region), Epirus, northwestern Greece, locate ...

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

. The town of

Peta People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA; ) is an American animal rights nonprofit organization based in Norfolk, Virginia, and led by Ingrid Newkirk, its international president. Founded in March 1980 by Newkirk and animal right ...

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 The Bridge of Arta () is a stone bridge that crosses the Arachthos river (Άραχθος) in the west of the city of Arta, Greece, Arta (Άρτα) in northwestern Greece. It has been rebuilt many times over the centuries, starting with Roman archi ...

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.

References

External links

MandraPhotosArachthos River on WebshotsArachthos Gorge photoArahthos Festival
Rivers of Epirus (region) Rivers of Greece Landforms of Ioannina (regional unit) Landforms of Arta (regional unit) Pindus {{Greece-river-stub