Krystallopigi (Greek: Κρυσταλλοπηγή) or Kroustallopigi (Κρουσταλλοπηγή), before 1926: Smardesi (Σμαρδέσι)[2] is a former community in Florina regional unit, West Macedonia, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Prespes, of which it is a municipal unit.[3] It is located on the Greek–Albanian border.
Krystallopigi
Κρυσταλλοπηγή | |
|---|---|
  Krystallopigi Location within the regional unit  | |
| Coordinates: 40°38′N 21°05′E / 40.633°N 21.083°E | |
| Country | Greece |
| Administrative region | West Macedonia |
| Regional unit | Florina |
| Municipality | Prespes |
| Area | |
| • Municipal unit | 102.0 km2 (39.4 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 1,130 m (3,710 ft) |
| Population (2021)[1] | |
| • Municipal unit | 145 |
| • Municipal unit density | 1.4/km2 (3.7/sq mi) |
| • Community | 111 |
| Time zone | UTC+2 (EET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+3 (EEST) |
| Vehicle registration | ΡΑ |
The municipal unit has an area of 101.984 km2.[4] The population is 145 (2021). The main village is also called Krystallopigi. After the Greek Civil War, the village was resettled with Aromanians from Epirus. Today they still form the majority of the town's population. Nearby is located the depopulated village Vambel.
Krystallopigi borders Albania to the west; Prespes municipality to the north; Korestia municipality, Kastoria regional unit, to the east and southeast; and Kastraki community, Kastoria regional unit, to the south. A major road border crossing into Albania is located here. The Albanian side of the border crossing is known as Kapshtica, 9 km east from Bilisht.
Name
editUntil 1926, the village was known as Smardesi (Greek: Σμαρδέσι).[2] In the Bulgarian it is known as Смърдеш, Smardesh or Smrdesh, while in Macedonian as Смрдеш, Smrdeš. The original name of the village is believed to be derived from the local Slavic name of a nearby mineral spring Smrdliva Voda meaning stinky water.[5] The modern name Krystallopigi means "crystal spring".
History
editThe village was mentioned in an Ottoman defter of 1530, under the name of Ismirdesh, and was described as having 53 households.[6] The bigger part of the population of Smerdesh in 19th and in the beginning of 20th century was Bulgarian.[7] There were 1780 inhabitants in 1900.[8]
Many residents of Smardesh took part in the struggle of IMORO. There was an illegal foundry and depot for hand grenades in 1903.[9][10] The village was burned by Turkish troops in May 1903.[11] It was plundered and burned for the second time in 1903 during the Ilinden–Preobrazhenie Uprising.[12]
The name of the village was changed to Krystallopigi in 1926.
During the Greek Civil War, Krystallopigi was destroyed and later rebuilt between 1957–1958.[13] The Greek government assisted a group of nomadic transhumant Aromanians, known as the Arvanitovlachs to settle in Krystallopigi.[14][13] Aromanians are the only inhabitants of the village.[14]
Krystallopigi had 265 inhabitants in 1981.[15] In fieldwork done by anthropologist Riki Van Boeschoten in late 1993, Krystallopigi was populated by Aromanians.[15]
Demographics
edit| Year | Pop. | ±% |
|---|---|---|
| 1913 | 1,488 | — |
| 1920 | 718 | −51.7% |
| 1928 | 598 | −16.7% |
| 1940 | 624 | +4.3% |
| 1961 | 364 | −41.7% |
| 1971 | 309 | −15.1% |
| 1981 | 265 | −14.2% |
| 2001[4] | 383 | +44.5% |
| 2011[16] | 359 | −6.3% |
| 2021[1] | 145 | −59.6% |
Notable persons
edit- Vasil Chekalarov (1874–1913) - Bulgarian revolutionary
References
edit- ^ a b "Αποτελέσματα Απογραφής Πληθυσμού - Κατοικιών 2021, Μόνιμος Πληθυσμός κατά οικισμό" [Results of the 2021 Population - Housing Census, Permanent population by settlement] (in Greek). Hellenic Statistical Authority. 29 March 2024.
- ^ a b Institute for Neohellenic Research. "Name Changes of Settlements in Greece: Smardesi – Krystallopigi". Pandektis. Retrieved 14 November 2018.
- ^ "ΦΕΚ B 1292/2010, Kallikratis reform municipalities" (in Greek). Government Gazette.
- ^ a b "Population & housing census 2001 (incl. area and average elevation)" (PDF) (in Greek). National Statistical Service of Greece. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2015-09-21.
- ^ Симовски, Тодор (1998). Населените места во Егејска Македонија : географски, етнички и стопански карактеристики. I. Скопје: Институт за национална историја. стр. 175–176
- ^ Harun Yeni, Demography and settlement in Paşa sancaği sol-kol region according to muhasebe-i vilayet-i rumeli defteri dated 1530 [1530 tarihli Muhasebe-i Vilayet-i Rumeli defteri'ne göre Paşa Sancağı sol-kol bölgesinde demografi ve yerleşim], Ankara, 2006, стр. 118.
- ^ Brailsford, H. N. Macedonia: Its Races and Their Future, London 1906, p. 141
- ^ Васил Кънчов. „Македония. Етнография и статистика“. София, 1900, с.265 (Kanchov, Vasil. Macedonia — ethnography and statistics Sofia, 1900, p. 265),
- ^ Чекаларов, Васил. Дневник 1901-1903, с. 232 (Chekalarov, Vasil. Diary 1901-1903, p. 232)
- ^ Силянов, Христо. Освободителнитѣ борби на Македония, том I, София 1933, с. 271 (Silyanov, Hristo. The liberation struggles of Macedonia, vol. 1, Sofia 1933, p. 271
- ^ Brailsford, H. N., op. cit., p. 144-146, Македония и Одринско (1893-1903). Мемоар на Вътрешната организация, 1904, с. 203
- ^ Шклифов, Благой и Екатерина Шклифова. Български диалектни текстове от Егейска Македония, София 2003, с. 32 (Shklifov, Blagoy and Ekaterina Shklifova. Bulgarian dialect texts from Aegean Macedonia Sofia 2003, p. 32), Македония и Одринско (1893-1903). Мемоар на Вътрешната организация, 1904, с. 203
- ^ a b Kostopoulos, Tassos (2011). "How the North was won. Épuration ethnique, échange des populations et politique de colonisation dans la Macédoine grecque" [How the North was won. Ethnic cleansing, population exchange and settlement policy in Greek Macedonia]. European Journal of Turkish Studies (in French) (12). para. 53.
- ^ a b Koukoudis, Asterios (2003). The Vlachs: Metropolis and Diaspora. Zitros Publications. p. 304. ISBN 9789607760869.
- ^ a b Van Boeschoten, Riki (2001). "Usage des langues minoritaires dans les départements de Florina et d'Aridea (Macédoine)" [Use of minority languages in the departments of Florina and Aridea (Macedonia)]. Strates (in French). 10. Table 3: Kristallopiyi, 265; V; V = Valaques (Aroumains)"
- ^ "Απογραφή Πληθυσμού - Κατοικιών 2011. ΜΟΝΙΜΟΣ Πληθυσμός" (in Greek). Hellenic Statistical Authority.