Varasova

Varasova
Varasova
	Varasova from Kryoneri
Highest point
Elevation	917 m (3,009 ft)
Coordinates	38°21′49″N 21°35′31″E / 38.3635°N 21.592°E
Naming
Pronunciation	Greek: [vaˈrasova]
Geography
	Varasova southern Aetolia-Acarnania

Varasova (Greek: Βαράσοβα) is a limestone mountain in the southern part of Aetolia-Acarnania in western Greece. It was known as Chalcis (Ancient Greek: Χαλκίς) in antiquity, and there was an ancient Aetolian town at its foot named Chalcis, Hypochalcis or Chalceia^[2] (hence the name of the current administrative unit Chalkeia). It rises steeply from the coast of the Gulf of Patras to 917 m elevation.^[1] It is situated just east of the mouth of the river Evinos, 3 km east of Galatas, 14 km east of Missolonghi and 18 km northwest of Patras. 8 km to its east is the mountain Klokova. There are several rock climbing routes on the steep south and southwest faces of the Varasova.^[1]

It is referred to as the Mount Athos of Rumelia or Western Greece, due to the large number of churches and monasteries (around 72) built in the Byzantine and the Ottoman period.^[3] Several still exist today, including the 9th-18th century cave monastery of Agios Nikolaos near Kryoneri, which is only accessible by boat.^[4] It is an important natural site, notable as the only place in the world where the plant Centaurea subspecies Heldeichii grows.^[5]

Local tradition tells us that the Titans endeavoured to throw this rock into the sea, so that it might form a bridge between the two coasts; but the rock proved too heavy, and was dropped where we see it today.