Alonnisos

Coordinates: 39°9′N 23°50′E / 39.150°N 23.833°E / 39.150; 23.833
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Alonnisos
Αλόννησος
UTC+3 (EEST)
Postal code
370 05
Area code(s)24240
Vehicle registrationBO
Websitewww.alonissos.gov.gr

Alonnisos (

municipality
that encompasses the island and the village.

The village of Alonnisos is located on the southern part of the island. It is locally known as Chora and signposted as The Old Village. The main port of the island is located in the southeast and is called Patitiri. There are ferry, catamaran ("flying cat") and hydrofoil ("flying dolphin") services from Patitiri to Volos, Agios Konstantinos, and Thessaloniki on the mainland and to the islands of Skiathos, Skopelos and Skyros. The bay at the southern end of the island is also called Alonnisos.

The Municipality of Alonnisos includes the nearby islands of

Piperi, Psathoura and Skantzoura
.

History

In the

Scyrus to Icus.[3] Phanodemus wrote an account of the island.[4]

Geography

The island at its widest is 4.5 km (3 mi) from northwest to southeast and at its longest is 20 km (12 mi) from southwest to northeast. The area of the island is 64 km2 (25 sq mi). The island is mostly limestone. It is located east of mainland Greece and Magnesia, northeast of Euboea and northwest of the island of Skyros.

The island

Alonnisos

Agriculture is widespread on Alonnisos, predominantly mixed farming and vineyards. The main products are

olives. Pine
trees are abundant on the island. While fishing is a popular profession on the island, tourism is now the main industry.

Housing traditionally consists of closely constructed houses with stone walls, which, until 1965, were centered on the capital. A small fortress protected against enemies and pirates. The island and the village were heavily damaged in the 1965 earthquake. Many inhabitants returned not to the village of Alonnisos, but to Patitiri. The old village has been restored in recent years, with rebuilt houses now utilised for tourism.

The beaches around the island consist of pebbles. The ecosystem in the north side of the island is in good condition. The Mediterranean monk seal (Monachus monachus) is common around the island, and in 1992 the Alonnisos Marine Park was created to protect these seals and other animals.

In July 2021, Kostis, a monk seal that was the mascot of the island, was killed, apparently by a spearfisher.[5]

Communities and subdivisions

Port of Patitiri
Beach in Alonnisos
Beach in Alonnisos

The Municipality includes several other islands with small resident populations. The total land area of the municipality is 129.607 km2 (50.042 sq mi).[6] The 2021 census population was 3,138 inhabitants, of whom only 33 persons lived on the other islands.[1]

Alonnisos Island

Other islands

Historical population

Year Population
1991 2,985
2001 2,700
2011 2,750
2021[1] 3,138

References

  1. ^ a b c "Αποτελέσματα Απογραφής Πληθυσμού - Κατοικιών 2021, Μόνιμος Πληθυσμός κατά οικισμό" [Results of the 2021 Population - Housing Census, Permanent population by settlement] (in Greek). Hellenic Statistical Authority. 29 March 2024.
  2. ^ Scymn. Chios, 582; Appian, B.C. 5.7; Strabo. Geographica. Vol. ix. p. 436. Page numbers refer to those of Isaac Casaubon's edition.
  3. Ab urbe condita Libri
    [History of Rome]. Vol. 31.45.
  4. ^ Stephanus of Byzantium. Ethnica. Vol. s.v. Ἴκος.
  5. ^ "Greece seeks spear fisher who killed famous seal". BBC News. 2021-07-26. Retrieved 2021-07-26.
  6. ^ "Population & housing census 2001 (incl. area and average elevation)" (PDF) (in Greek). National Statistical Service of Greece. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2015-09-21.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Alonissos.
Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Alonnisos.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Alonnisos&oldid=1219045094"