The north shore of the Gulf of Arta (Ambracian Gulf)
depicting the
land strip connecting Salaghora with Koronisia.
[ click image map for larger view ]
This map was published in an article published in 1908 in the Royal
Geographical Society C. M. Church and J. L. Myres, titled "A Contribution
to the Topography of the North-Western Greece.
The article describes how after entering the gulf of Arta
through the straits of Preveza, the Greek flotilla took control of the
Ambracian gulf.
" The northern side of the gulf, which forms the foreshore
of the fertile plain of Arta, is formed by a series of small islands
and peninsulas, separated by lagoons which are often wholly landlocked.
Open anchorages off Salagora and Koperna served as the ports of Arta,
and possible means of communication with Preveza by sea. About half
way between them lies the island of Koronisi, which, communicating with
the mainland by two nearly continuous sandbars--one north-westward to
Salagora, the other north-eastward round the Logari lagoon-- offered
at the same time and advanced base and port of observation for the Greek
squadron, and a secure refuse for the numerous Greek families from the
plain. Koronisi was accordingly occupied, and reinforced now by a detachment
under General Church himself. The sketch is of some interest, because,
since 1828 [this article written in 1908], the coastline has advanced
appreciably and the outline of the sandbar has altered also." (The Royal
Geographical Society,1908).
On June 25, 1805, William Martin Leake passed
through this area and wrote:
"June 25.--A north-westerly breeze carries me this afternoon
in an hour and a half, to Salaghora, the port of Arta,. Just beyond
the strait which separates the Gulf of Prevyza from that of Arta, are
two small islands : that to the left is named Gaidharonisi, that to
the right Kefalo. These and the other islands in the Gulf, like all
the desert grounds of Greece, are clothed with a luxuriant vegetation
in the spring, when they furnish pasture for cattle. Between Gaidharanisis
and the neighboring cape of the peninsula of Skafidhaki, we found
one of Aly Pasha's gun-boats lying, a small vessel with two little guns
in the bow.
He has two or three of these in the Gulf, and at Salaghora
a new brig corvette. When he lately visited Salaghora he ordered the
shrubs to be cleared away, and a town to be laid out ; but only five
or six magazines have been built, with a chamber for the collector
of the customs at the foot of a rocky height which here projects from
the northern shore of the Gulf.
The hill seems formerly to have been
an island, being almost surrounded by the sea to the south, where
the depth of water is more than sufficient for any ship capable of crossing
the bar of Prevyza , and by shallow lagoons to the north, the connexion
with the main land being by means of three narrow low banks branching
from it to the east, the west, and the north : the two former of
these are mere threads of land, such as generally separate lagoons
from the sea ; the last is wider, but so low as often to beinunbated
; a causeway, which even in this season is washed by the water of the
lagoon, forms the only road into the plain of Arta.
The summit of the hill of
Salaghora commands an excellent view of the Gulf. In the rammata,
which separate the lagoons from the sea, are seeing the openings where
the fish are caught, as at Mazoma of Prevyza, and where are houses for
the use of the fishery. The thread to the east joins at the end of three
miles a woody peninsula projecting into the Gulf, on which is a metokhi
of the Pahaghia, and off it three or four small islands connected
together by mud-banks, and called the Karakonisia : midway to the Acarnanian
shore, is Vuvala, the largest island in the Gulf.
Beyond the peninsula
of Panaghia the ramma is continued two or three miles farther
eastward, to Palea-Bukka : so called from the belief that here was anciently
the mouth of the river of Arta, now three miles to the eastward, which
is not devoid of probability, as in almost every instance of an increase
of land at the mouth of rivers, their lower course has assumed a new
direction.
Near the eastern side of the muddy and shallow bay of
Palea-Bukka, is an island in the lagoon, covered with the ruins of a
castle called Fidhokastro (serpent-castle), built of small stones and
mortar, mixed with Hellenic work towards the foundations. The lagoon
on the western side of Salaghora, which extends to the river of Luro,
is named Tzukalia, that to the eastward of Logaru.
June 26.--Quitting Salaghora for Arta this morning at
5.45, we pass round the western end of the hill, and follow the causeway
for half a mile across the lagoon ; then enter upon the plain which,
though now dry, is so marshy during the greater part of the year, as
to be left uncultivated. But we soon arrive upon somewhat higher level,
where are a few fields of corn among desert tracts covered with camomile
; pass through Anazi and Postikius, both villages belonging to Mukhtar
Pasha, the latter at 7.35, and from thence pass through a continuance
of tillage as far as Arta. At 8.15 we cross the river of Arta, which
is here about 200 yards wide--deep, winding, and rapid--by a handsome
bridge, said to have been built by the Paleologi."
(William Martin Leake, "Travels in Northern Greece",
Vol. 1, p. 199-202,
J. Rodwell, New Bond Street, London, 1835)
Also see:
The Ambracian Gulf
Photos from the Salagora area
Other maps and satellite photos of the Ambracian Gulf
