Vathypedo

Vathypedo
Βαθύπεδο (Greek)
Buzvală (Aromanian)
Location within the regional unit
Vathypedo
Coordinates: 39°38′N 21°04′E / 39.633°N 21.067°E / 39.633; 21.067
CountryGreece
Administrative regionEpirus
Regional unitIoannina
MunicipalityNorth Tzoumerka
Area
 • Municipal unit10.127 km2 (3.910 sq mi)
Population
 (2021)[1]
 • Municipal unit
89
 • Municipal unit density8.8/km2 (23/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+2 (EET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+3 (EEST)
Vehicle registrationΙΝ

Vathypedo (Greek: Βαθύπεδο, before 1928: Προσβάλα, Prosvala;[2][3] Aromanian: Buzvală)[4] is a village and a former community in the Ioannina regional unit, Epirus, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality North Tzoumerka, of which it is a municipal unit.[5] The municipal unit has an area of 10.127 km2.[6] Its population was 89 in 2021. Vathypedo is located on the slopes of the Sarmanitsa hill and a flat area at a lower altitude is formed and drained by a stream called Goura, a tributary of the Arachthos.[7]

Name

In the late 19th century scholar Ioannis Lambridis wrote the place name referred to an area 'hilly from sediments', a description of local geographic features.[7] The toponym is derived from the Slavic preposition pro- meaning 'above, through' and the Slavic noun sъvala 'marsh' with the deletion of the unstressed ъ, expressed as u in Greek due to northern phonetics.[7]

Demographics

Vathypedo has an Aromanian population and is an Aromanian speaking village.[8][4] In the early 21st century, elderly people were bilingual in the community language and Greek, whereas younger residents under 40 might have understood the community language but did not use it.[9]

References

  1. ^ "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.
  2. ^ Institute for Neohellenic Research. "Name Changes of Settlements in Greece: Prosvala – Vathypedon". Pandektis. Archived from the original on 13 December 2024. Retrieved 21 December 2025.
  3. ^ Hellenic Agency for Local Development and Local Government. "Διοικητικές Μεταβολές των Οικισμών: Προσβάλλα – Βαθύπεδον" [Administrative Changes of Settlements: Prosvalla – Vathypedon]. EETAA (in Greek). Retrieved 21 December 2025.
  4. ^ a b Koukoudis, Asterios (2003). The Vlachs: Metropolis and Diaspora. Zitros Publications. p. 82. ISBN 9789607760869. another group of Vlach villages... Vathypedo (Prosvala or Buzvală)
  5. ^ "ΦΕΚ B 1292/2010, Kallikratis reform municipalities" (in Greek). Government Gazette.
  6. ^ "Population & housing census 2001 (incl. area and average elevation)" (PDF) (in Greek). National Statistical Service of Greece.
  7. ^ a b c Oikonomou 2002, p. 254.
  8. ^ Oikonomou 2002, pp. 2, 254.
  9. ^ Oikonomou, Kostas E. (2002). Τα οικωνύμια του νομού Ιωαννίνων. Γλωσσολογική εξέταση [The oikonyms of the prefecture of Ioannina. A linguistic examination] (PDF) (in Greek). Nomarchiaki Aftodioikisi Ioanninon. pp. 2–3. ISBN 9789608316010. Archived (PDF) from the original on 25 November 2024.