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Kefalonia
The island of '''Kefalonia''', also known as ''Cephallenia'', ''Cephallonia'', ''Kefallinia'', or ''Kefallonia'' (Ancient Greek: Κεφαλληνία; Modern Greek Language|Greek: '''Κεφαλλονιά''' or Κεφαλονιά; ), is the largest of the Ionian Islands in western Greece, with an area of 350 sq. miles. It is also the larger of the two islands forming the Kefalonia and Ithaka Prefecture, and contains eight of the prefecture's nine Communities and Municipalities of Greece|municipalities or communities. (Ithaca is on a separate island.)
The List of islands of Greece|island is named after the mythological figure Cephalus (Ciphalis), although some hold its name literally means "island with a head", referring to the island's shape; the name "Ciphalis" is derived from the Greek word for "head".
Geography
The capital of the Kefalonia prefecture is Argostoli. The island's population is nearly 45,000; it previously was home to the fastest growing population in Greece, with a growth rate of 35% to 40% during the 1990s. It was officially 36,404 at the census of 2001. The size of the island is ca. 800 km² (300 mi²), and the present population density is 55 people per km² (140/mi²), with Argostoli home to one-third of the island's habitants. Lixouri is the second major settlement, and the two towns together account for almost two-thirds of the prefecture's population.
Kefalonia is located in the heart of an earthquake zone, and dozens of minor or unrecorded tremors occur each year. In 1953, a massive earthquake almost destroyed settlement on the island, leaving only Fiscardo in the north untouched.
Most of the Kefalonia population have surnames ending in "-atos". Almost every community in Kefalonia has a name ending in "-ata", such as Valsamata, Frangata, Lourdata, Favata, Delaportata, and others.
In the ancient period, before it was named Kefalonia, the island was known to have a population of only 100 to 300; at the ancient founding of Kefalonia, the population trebled to around 500 - 1,000 people. The population grew steadily, until it reached 10,000 in the mid-20th century, with the total topping 20,000 by the 1970s.
Mountains
Kefalonia's highest mountain is Mount Ainos, with an elevation of 1628m (almost the same elevation as Denver, Colorado in North America); to the west-northwest are the Paliki mountains, where Lixouri is sited, with other mountains taking in Gerania and Agia Dynati.
Forestry
Forestry is rare on the island; however its timber output is one of the highest in the Ionian islands, although lower than that of Elia in the Peloponnese. Forest fires were common during the 1990s and the early 2000s. These fires still pose a major threat to the population of Kefalonia.
Agriculture
The primary agricultural occupations of Kefalonia are animal breeding and olive growing, with the remainder largely composed of grain and vegetables. Most vegetable production takes place on the plains, which cover less than 15% of the island; the majority of the island is rugged and mountainous, suitable only for goats. Less than a quarter of the island's land is arable.
The majority of Kefalonians lived in rural areas before the 1970s, while today the urban population accounts for two-thirds of the prefecture, and the other third remain in rural towns and villages close to farmland.
Harbours and ports
There are five harbours and ports in the prefecture: four main harbours on the island, Same (ancient Greece)|Same or Sami, and a major port with links to Patras and Ithaca. Poros, in the south, has ferry routes to Kyllini; Argostoli, in the west, is the largest port, for local boats and ferries to Zante and regularly to Lixouri; Fiscardo, in the north, has links to Lefkas and Ithaca. There is room for about 100 small boats in Argostoli, where the port stretches 1 kilometre around the bay, while Lixouri is situated 4 km across the bay from Argostoli, on the Lixouri peninsula. There is a road connection to the rest of the island, but driving from Lixouri to Argostoli involves a 30 km detour.
Beaches
- Atheras Beach
- Katelios
- Mounda Bay, near Kateleios
- Myrtos Beach
- Lepeda Beach (south of Lixouri in the Paliki)
- Petani Beach (North of Lixouri in the Paliki)
- Vatsa Bay (south of Lixouri in the Paliki)
- Xi Beach (south of Lixouri in the Paliki)
Capes
- Cape Agios Georgios (Kefalonia) (lat: 38.1667/38°10' N, long: 20.43333/20°26' E)
- Cape Kounopetra
Towns
Since 1997 the island is divided into 8 communities or towns. These are:
Others
- Nautical Racing Club of Kefalonia and Ithaca
Transportation
Roads
The first larger roads were built by the English in the 19th century. In the 20th century asphalted roads were built, and since 1995 almost all streets connecting villages and beaches are covered with asphalt. since ca. 2000 the Lixouri bypass was built and a four lane street south of Argostoli was constructed.
Some important roads include:
- Greek National Road 50, commonly Argostoli-Sami Road
- Argostoli-Poros Road
- Argostoli-Fiskardo Road (with link to Lixouri)
- Road linking Poros and Sami
Airport
Kefalonia has one airport, Kefalonia Island International Airport, with a runway around 2.4 km. in length, located about 10 km south of Argostoli. Almost every scheduled flight is an Olympic Airways|Olympic route, flying mainly to and from Athens, although there is an Ionian Island Hopper www.airsealines.com service 3 times a week calling at Kefalonia, Zante and Lefkas. In summer the airport handles a number of charter flights from all over Europe.
Higher Education
- Technical Educational Institution of the Ionian Islands, Argostoli Campus (Department of Biological Agriculture and Department of Public Relations and Comunication)
- Technical Educational Institution of the Ionian Islands, Lixouri Campus (Department of Business Administration & Music instruments and Department of Business Administration)
- National Merchant Marine Academy, Argostoli
- The Music School of Kefalonia - Rokos Vergotis Conservatory, Argostoli
Media
Legal Media
Media that are approved by the N.M.C - National Media Council, ΕΣΡ - Εθνικό Συμβούλιο Ραδιοτηλεώρασης)
Television
Kefallonia has not LEGAL local TV stations, Television is not characterized "LOCAL" by the laws in Greece.
TV stations are characterized "REGIONAL" and "NATIONAL" by the Greek Laws and the Hellenic Constitution.
Some of the Regional Stations of the Ionian Islands and/or Western Greece:
Super B
Art TV
Radio
Kefallonia has 5 legal radio stations witch are:
(sorted by the last audience research at Jan/2007, committed by VPRC, Metron Analysis and MRB Hellas SA)
- Ionian Galaxy 90.8
- Kiss Fm Kefalonia 100.6 (former Radio Argostoli) tune in http://live.argostolifm.gr
- Radio Continental 93.8
- ERA-K
- Cosmos Fm
- And all Of the National radio channels (ERA)
Non Legal Media
Media That are not Aproved by The N.M.C (national media council) ΕΣΡ (Εθνικό Συμβούλιο Ραδιοτηλεώρασης), and so are illegal.There are several judicatory cases going at the moment (10/2008) with all of the illegal tv and radio stations and Greek republic ESR.
Illegal Television
- Kefalonia TV
- Planet TV
- Kefalonian Sky
- Odysseas TV
Illegal Radio
- Radiokimata - Tzanata
- Radio Livathos - Municipality of Leivathos
- Radio Damodos
- Zizanio
- Radio of the Church of Kefalonia
- Love Radio (it is legal at Attiki nut it is transmitted illegally on Kefalonia Island)
- ANT1 Radio (it is legal at Attiki nut it is transmitted illegally on Kefalonia Island)
References
External links
- Municipallity of Elios-Pronni
- Loggerhead sea turtle conservation in Kefalonia
- The first page for Kefalonia on the Internet, since 1994
- The Andreas Gerasimos Michalitsianos telescope
Category:Ionian Islands|Kefalonia
Category:Islands of Greece
Category:Kefalonia|*
Category:Tourism in Greece
Related Images- Argostoli and Lixouri from the mountains
- A poppy field
- Cypress trees at the roadside
- Tourists and locals dining on the Square Vallianos in Argostoli
- A road near Myrtos beach
Sources: StartLearningNow, Wikipedia | Usage license: GNU FDL
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