ΞΗΡΟΠΟΤΑΜΟΣ
[ΠΗΓΗ: www.asvestohori.gr, Σταματελάτος, Μ., Βάμβα‑Σταματελάτου, Φ., Γεωγραφικό λεξικό της Ελλάδας (2012), Αθήνα: Δημοσιογραφικός Οργανισμός Λαμπράκη.]
XEROPOTAMOS
The Xeropotamos River, which originates in Exochi and flows into the sea near Dendropotamos, passes through Asvestochori, Pefka, and Polichni and constitutes an important natural habitat designated as a Site of Outstanding Natural Beauty. In the past, its waters powered mills that served the local communities, while part of its riverbed was covered over in the 1970s. The valley is also closely linked to local history, as on July 26, 1944, fifteen Resistance fighters were executed there by the occupying forces. Despite its natural and historical significance, the river has suffered from pollution and remains largely underutilized. The name Xeropotamos (Greek: Ξηροπόταμος) derives from the Greek words xeros (“dry”) and potamos (“river”), referring to a river or stream that dries up during the dry season or flows only after periods of heavy rainfall. The term describes a watercourse with intermittent rather than permanent flow and is widely used in Greek topography and hydrography for seasonal streams. In everyday language, xeropotamos is also associated with areas that remain dry during the summer months and with landscapes shaped by seasonal water availability.
