Zakynthos
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For other uses, see Zakynthos (disambiguation).
"Zante" redirects here. For other uses, see Zante (disambiguation).
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (June 2015) |
| Zakynthos Περιφερειακή ενότητα / Δήμος Ζακύνθου | ||
|---|---|---|
| Regional unit | ||
View of Zakynthos City
| ||
| ||
 Zakynthos within Greece | ||
| Coordinates: 37°48′N 20°45′ECoordinates: 37°48′N 20°45′E | ||
| Country | Greece | |
| Region | Ionian Islands | |
| Capital | Zakynthos (city) | |
| Government | ||
| • Vice Governor | Eleutherios Niotopoulos | |
| • Mayor | Pavlos Kolokotsas | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 407.58 km2 (157.37 sq mi) | |
| Population (2011) | ||
| • Total | 40,759 | |
| • Density | 100/km2 (260/sq mi) | |
| Demonym(s) | Zakynthian | |
| Postal codes | 29x xx | |
| Area codes | 2695 | |
| Car plates | ΖΑ | |
| Website | www | |
Zakynthos (Greek: Ζάκυνθος [ˈzacinθos] (
listen)) or Zante (/ˈzɑːnti, -teɪ, ˈzæn-/; from Venetian) is a Greek island in theIonian Sea. It is the third largest of the Ionian Islands. Zakynthos is a separate regional unit of the Ionian Islands region, and its only municipality. It covers an area of 410 km2 (158 sq mi) and its coastline is roughly 123 km (76 mi) in length. The name, like all similar names ending in -nthos, is pre-Mycenaean or Pelasgian in origin. In Greek mythology the island was said to be named after Zakynthos, the son of a legendary Arcadian chief Dardanus.
listen)) or Zante (/ˈzɑːnti, -teɪ, ˈzæn-/; from Venetian) is a Greek island in theIonian Sea. It is the third largest of the Ionian Islands. Zakynthos is a separate regional unit of the Ionian Islands region, and its only municipality. It covers an area of 410 km2 (158 sq mi) and its coastline is roughly 123 km (76 mi) in length. The name, like all similar names ending in -nthos, is pre-Mycenaean or Pelasgian in origin. In Greek mythology the island was said to be named after Zakynthos, the son of a legendary Arcadian chief Dardanus.
Zakynthos is a tourist destination, with an international airport served by many charter flights from northern Europe. The island's nickname is To fioro tou Levante (Italian: Il fiore di Levante, English: The flower of the East), given by theVenetians.[citation needed]
Great earthquake of 1953[edit]
| This section needs additional citations for verification. (June 2014) |
Main article: 1953 Ionian earthquake
The island suffered a series of four severe earthquakes in August 1953, resulting in the total destruction of its infrastructure, including most of the state archives. The third and most destructive of these quakes, registering 7.3 on the Richter Scale, occurred at 09:24 UTC (11:24 am local time) on 12 August 1953. It had its epicentre directly on the southern tip of the nearby island of Kefalonia, also causing widespread destruction there. The quake was felt throughout most of the country, and only three buildings on Zakynthos were left standing after the disaster: the St. Dionysios Cathedral, the National Bank building, and the church of St. Nicholas "tou Molou" (of the Quay). Other buildings in outlying areas also managed to avoid complete collapse.
After the quake[edit]
| This section does not cite any sources. (June 2015) |
After the enormous earthquake, the island's roads were expanded and paved along with the GR-35, one of the roads linking with the town and Porto Roma along with Laganas, Keri and Volimes and from Lachans to Keri.
Mining is common on the island. A small mountain located in Zakynthos' west side was mined during the 1990s, though it is no longer in use. Today mining continues, but with two quarries on the mountain range on the western part of the island. Tourism continues to thrive and Zakynthos is currently one of the most popular tourist destinations in Greece.
A few earthquakes hit the island in the 2000s (decade), one on Sunday 8 June 2008 at 6.4 R, felt without any damage or injuries. Another less serious tremor occurred four months later on Saturday 11 October, measured at 4R and also causing almost no damage.
pril 2006 earthquake swarm[edit]
| This section does not cite any sources. (June 2015) |
Starting in the early morning hours of 4 April 2006, a series of moderate to strong earthquakes occurring on an almost daily basis began shaking almost the entire island. On 11 April, however, the phenomenon intensified in both magnitude and rate of events. At 03:02 local time of that day, a powerful, magnitude 5.7 earthquake hit the area, only to be followed by an even stronger tremor, registering 5.9 on the Richter Scale, at 8:30 p.m. (20:30) EET.
On 12 April, a committee of the nation's most prominent seismologists had an emergency meeting with the Greek Ministry of Environment, Physical Planning and Public Works, in order to assess the emerging situation. The meeting ended in a scientific consensus that this specific area of the Ionian Sea was simply not ready to produce an even stronger quake, advising the nervous citizens of the island to remain calm. However, at 19:52 and at 19:56 local time of that same evening, two more earthquakes shook the region, sending scores of terrified people into the streets. The earthquakes had a preliminary moment magnitude of 5.8 and 5.4 respectively.
Seismologists at the Athens Seismological Institute were once again taken by surprise by what turned into an unprecedented riddle concerning whether or not these were in factforeshocks of a major event. The chances are, nonetheless, that this was just a phenomenon known as earthquake swarm, characterized by a pattern of a considerable amount of magnitude-wise similar tremors, all occurring within a limited number of days or weeks. As a result of the recurring jolts, moderate damage was reported to a total of sixty residencies and one library, while a small crack appeared on the eastern part of the capital's port. In addition, several rocks tumbled down onto one of the island's main roads, running through its mountainous areas.
The Ionian Islands are situated upon one of Europe's most notorious faults, capable of producing earthquakes potentially causing both widespread damage and considerable loss of life. However it should be stressed that, following the catastrophe of 1953, the authorities of Zakynthos have enforced a strict program of antiseismic standards (the same applies to the rest of Greece) to be applied in every building to be constructed. All buildings have been built on a swimming slab and enforced with steel, determined by the government to ensure safety.
After the quake and the wildfires of 2006[edit]
| This section does not cite any sources. (June 2015) |
On Thursday 18 July 2006, the western portion of the island was hit by a forest fire. The fire spread to the island's forest and ended up spreading by hectares. Firefighters along with helicopters and planes from the mainland arrived to fight the fire's expansion and further deforestation. The fire lasted for several days and on 20 July, much of the area was contained; though it had become unpopular and unattractive scenery. One of the conflagrations appeared as a fiery line visible from as far away as the southern portion of the island and the Ionian Sea.
Transport[edit]
The island is covered by a network of roads, particularly the flat eastern part, with main routes linking the capital with Volimes on north, Keri on the south, and peninsula Vassiliki on the west. The road between Volimes and Lithakia is the spine of the western half of the island.
The island has one airport, Zakynthos International Airport, "Dionysios Solomos" (on former GR-35) which connects flights with other Greek airports and numerous tourist charters. It is located 4.3 km (2.7 mi) from Zakynthos and opened in 1972.
Zakynthos also features two ports: the main port, located in the capital, and another in the village of Agios Nikolaos. From the main port there is a connection to the port of Kyllini, which is the usual route for arrivals to the island by sea from the mainland. From the port of Agios Nikolaos there is a connection to the island of Kefalonia.
| [hide]Climate data for Zakynthos (1961–1990) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 20.2 (68.4) | 21.4 (70.5) | 24.2 (75.6) | 25.6 (78.1) | 34.2 (93.6) | 35.8 (96.4) | 42.2 (108) | 38.4 (101.1) | 36.8 (98.2) | 30.4 (86.7) | 26.6 (79.9) | 22.2 (72) | 42.2 (108) |
| Average high °C (°F) | 14.4 (57.9) | 14.5 (58.1) | 16.1 (61) | 18.9 (66) | 23.4 (74.1) | 27.8 (82) | 30.7 (87.3) | 30.6 (87.1) | 27.6 (81.7) | 23.0 (73.4) | 19.0 (66.2) | 15.8 (60.4) | 21.8 (71.2) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | 11.3 (52.3) | 11.5 (52.7) | 12.9 (55.2) | 15.5 (59.9) | 19.8 (67.6) | 24.1 (75.4) | 26.7 (80.1) | 26.6 (79.9) | 23.8 (74.8) | 19.6 (67.3) | 15.8 (60.4) | 12.8 (55) | 18.4 (65.1) |
| Average low °C (°F) | 8.1 (46.6) | 8.2 (46.8) | 9.2 (48.6) | 11.1 (52) | 14.4 (57.9) | 18.2 (64.8) | 20.4 (68.7) | 20.9 (69.6) | 18.8 (65.8) | 15.7 (60.3) | 12.5 (54.5) | 9.6 (49.3) | 13.9 (57) |
| Record low °C (°F) | −2.6 (27.3) | −2.0 (28.4) | 0.0 (32) | 2.6 (36.7) | 5.0 (41) | 8.4 (47.1) | 12.0 (53.6) | 13.4 (56.1) | 10.8 (51.4) | 5.2 (41.4) | 2.8 (37) | 0.2 (32.4) | −2.6 (27.3) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 150.4 (5.921) | 112.8 (4.441) | 89.6 (3.528) | 51.3 (2.02) | 17.0 (0.669) | 7.2 (0.283) | 5.0 (0.197) | 9.1 (0.358) | 25.4 (1) | 146.5 (5.768) | 159.1 (6.264) | 169.9 (6.689) | 943.3 (37.138) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 1.0 mm) | 12.8 | 11.3 | 8.2 | 6.1 | 2.5 | 1.1 | 0.5 | 0.9 | 2.8 | 8.1 | 11.0 | 13.2 | 78.5 |
| Average relative humidity (%) | 74.3 | 72.8 | 72.8 | 71.7 | 67.8 | 62.8 | 59.3 | 61.2 | 66.7 | 71.7 | 76.0 | 75.3 | 69.4 |
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