Zakynthos
14 March 2006
Last Updated on 14 March 2006
Written by MazAlien
Zakynthos Prefecture
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| |
| Periphery |
Ionian Islands |
| Capital |
Zakynthos |
| Population |
41,472 (2005)
Ranked 51st |
| Area |
406 km² Ranked 52nd |
| Population density |
102.1/km² Ranked 8th |
| Number of provinces |
|
| Number of municipalities |
6 |
| Number of communities |
|
| Postal codes |
29x xx |
| Area codes |
26950 |
| Licence plate code |
?? |
| ISO 3166-2 code |
GR-21 |
| Website |
Pictures of Zakynthos 2006 |
arly in may this year we are leaving for Zakynthos (Zanthe for the greek) in Greece for recharging the battery. Zakynthos is the southernmost island of the Ionian archipelago, a short distance off the north-western tip of the Peloponnesos. It is also known as Zante, or “Fiore di Levante” (The flower of East Wind). Greek tourists have been coming to Zante long before international visitors started to get to know and appreciate its many attractions. The island’s geography ranges from the mountainous landscape in the north of the island to the gentle hills and flat countryside of the south. Springs abound and contribute to very green valleys and country lanes covered with wild flowers. Coastal cliffs and miles of golden beaches and resorts offer a good variety of watersports, tavernas and discos. One of the natural wonders of the islands are the Loggerhead sea turtles. These peaceful creatures have long been endangered in the Mediterranean waters and have adopted Zakynthos as their most important nesting area, where their conservation is taken very seriously. Argassi is the most popular beach resort on the island. It is just 5 kilometers from the capital Zakynthos City which is the most important city and where you find some interesting historic sights. Tsilivi is another beach resort just 5 km away. The main sight on the island is the Venetian fortress. It situated in the place where written sources locate the wall of the ancient acropolis (Psophidas). The strong earthquakes that have frequently struck the island destroyed the fortifications so often that they had constantly to be rebuilt.
akynthos has a varied terrain, with fertile plains in the southeastern part and mountainous terrain with steep cliffs along the coasts on the west. Zakynthos town coordinates are: latitude 37.79139/37°47’29 N, longitude: 20.89528/20’53’43 E. The mild, Mediterranean climate and the plentiful winter rainfall endow the island with dense vegetation. The principal products are olive oil, currants, grapes and citrus fruit. The capital, which has the same name as the prefecture, is the town of Zakynthos; apart from the official name, it is also called Chora (i.e. the Town, a common denomination in Greece when the name of the island itself is the same as the name of the principal town). According to the 2001 census, the island has a population of 38,957. The most famous Zakynthian is the 19th century poet Dionysios Solomos, the principal modern Greek poet and author of the national anthem of Greece. His statue adorns the main town square. Also Juan de Fuca was born here.
anthe or Zakynthos has one airport, the Dionysos Solomos Airport (on former GR-35) in its southwest which connects flights with other Greek airports. Further southwest is the National Marine Park of Zakynthos where loggerhead turtles (Caretta caretta) are found in (the bay of Laganas). Caretta caretta is an endangered species. Every year beginning in June the female turtles come to the southern beaches in order to bury their eggs in the sand. The breeding times takes approx. 55 days. The babies slip themselves into the sea, and the survival rate is very small for the males. A pregnant turtle lays about 1,000 eggs. The port of Zakynthos has a ferry connecting to the port of Kyllini on the mainland. Another ferry connects the village of Skinari to Argostoli on the island of Kefalonia. This paradise on earth suffered severe earthquakes in 1953, which destroyed almost everything on the island. These were not the only earthquakes in area, but the most dramatic ones in recent history. Only three buildings were left standing in place after the disaster: the St. Dionysios Cathedral, the National Bank building, and the church of St. Nicholas “tou Molou” (of the Quay). A few other buildings in outlying areas have avoided complete destruction. Since then Zakynthos has been rebuilt to a very rigid anti-earthquake specification, and has withstood several serious earthquakes with minimal damage. Mining is also common on the island, where a small mountain located in Zakynthos’ west side was mined during the 1990s, though it is no longer in use. Today, mining still continues, but now with two quarries on the mountain range in the western part of the island. A beach within the cliffs except for the sea almost on both sides and a shipwrecked boat on its shoresThe Zante currant, a small sweet seedless grape is native to the island.
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Comments
Lucky you :clap_tb: (both of you, Marcel and Esther); You’ve earned it!!
What a nice thing to look forward too.
I hope you will have a wonderful time at Zakyntos …. (i guess that will be difficult because I will not join you, but try to make the best of it without me :tongue1_tb: :laugh_tb:)
Gertie, It sure will be difficult, but after a few retsina’s we don’t bother anymore… :drunk_tb:
But I hope that you will remember me again the day after
hh_ee: ……… or do I have to introduce me to you again when we meet on the 13th of July at our China-Tibet-trip….. :smile1_ee:
I CANT WAIT!
morgen mijn camera en zaterdag al vakantie shoppen!
jeeeej!