Chalastra is a municipality in the Thessaloniki Prefecture, in the region of Central Macedonia. It is located 20 km west of the city of Thessaloniki, on the Greek National Road 1 near Axios river and the Thermaic Gulf. The Municipality of Chalastra consists of two Municipal Departments: Chalastra and Anatoliko. The population was 9,837 inhabitants according to the 2001 census, most of them working in agriculture and small industry.

History

Chalastra (Greek: Χαλάστρα, Strabo vii.; Χαλέστρη, Herod. vii. 123; Χαλαίστρα, Plut. Alex. 49; Plin. iv. 10. § 17, xxxi. 10. § 46) was known as a town of Mygdonia in ancient Macedonia, situated on the Thermaikos gulf at the mouth of the Axios river, which belonged to the Thracians and possessed a harbor. (Steph. B. s.v.) A large part of the population was absorbed in Thessaloniki when it was founded by Cassander. Little remains of the original town, but it is considered that its location was near modern Kulakia. Other names of the town have been Campania and Pyrgos.

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