Araxos

Araxos (Άραξος, Araxus) is a village and community in the municipal unit of Larissos of the municipality of West Achaea in the northwestern part of Achaea, Greece, approximately 29 km southwest of Patras. The community consists of the villages Araxos, Akrotirio Araxos, and Taxiarches. It is located in the coastal plains near Cape Araxos, which separates the Gulf of Patras from the Ionian Sea. There are two lagoons near the village Araxos: Prokopos to the southwest and Kalogria (or Pappas or Araxos) to the north. The Mavra Vouna hills are in the north, Cape Araxos being their northernmost point. It is 4 km west of Lakkopetra, 1 km west of Araxos Airport, 5 km north of Metochi and 13 km west of Kato Achaia.

Strofilia wetlands natural park
Located near Araxos are the Kalogria beach and the Strofilia wetlands natural park. Strofilia is a 22 km2 national park that is part of the Natura 2000 network and is protected under the Ramsar Convention. The wetlands ecosystem occupies a coastal zone of about 22 km in length, with an average width of 1.5 km. It is a compound coastal ecosystem that includes the lagoons of Prokopos and Kalogria (or Pappas), the Lamia marshes, and the forest of Strofilia (Natura 2000 codes: GR 232001 and GR233006). The Stone pine (Pinus pinea) forest of Strofylia is the most extensive Stone pine forest in all of Greece and one of the largest in Europe. Most of the area lies in sand dune formations.

Araxos Air Base


An auxiliary military airfield was constructed in the area in 1939. Construction of the base began around 1958, and it became operational in 1962. Currently, the base is used by the 116 Combat Wing of the Hellenic Air Force, which consists of 335 Bombing Squadron and 336 Bombing Squadron, both equipped with F-16C/D Block 52+ aircraft. The runway is 3352 m long, running in a South to North direction (18/36). The military installations are accessed from Lakkopetra to the North.

From 1978 to 2001, the Araxos Air Base was also home to the NATO 345 Air Munitions Company. This unit was responsible for the U.S. B61 nuclear bombs intended for delivery by Hellenic Air Force A-7H aircraft under NATO nuclear sharing arrangements. The nuclear weapons were stored in vaults inside the base's Hardened Aircraft Shelters using the WS3 Weapon Storage and Security System.

Araxos Airport
Araxos Airport (IATA: GPA, ICAO: LGRX) is a civilian airport that uses the military base runway. Araxos is the closest airport to the city of Patras. The airport serves a few civilian charter flights from northern Europe during summer. The civil aviation installations are accessed from the South.