List of islands of Greece

Last updated

Map all coordinates using: OpenStreetMap
Regions for Greek islands Greek Islands regions map.png
Regions for Greek islands

Greece has many islands, [Note 1] with estimates ranging from somewhere around 1,200 [1] to 6,000, [2] depending on the minimum size to take into account. The number of inhabited islands is variously cited as between 166 [3] and 227. [2]

Contents

The largest Greek island by both area and population is Crete, located at the southern edge of the Aegean Sea. The second largest island in area is Euboea or Evvia, which is separated from the mainland by the 60m-wide Euripus Strait, and is administered as part of the Central Greece region. After the third and fourth largest Greek islands, Lesbos and Rhodes, the rest of the islands are two-thirds of the area of Rhodes, or smaller.

The Greek islands are traditionally grouped into the following clusters: the Argo-Saronic Islands in the Saronic Gulf near Athens; the Cyclades, a large but dense collection occupying the central part of the Aegean Sea; the North Aegean islands, a loose grouping off the west coast of Turkey; the Dodecanese, another loose collection in the southeast between Crete and Turkey; the Sporades, a small tight group off the coast of Euboea; and the Ionian Islands, chiefly located to the west of the mainland in the Ionian Sea. Crete with its surrounding islets and Euboea are traditionally excluded from this grouping.

This article excludes the Peloponnese, which has technically been an island since the construction of the Corinth Canal in 1893, but is rarely considered to be an island due to its artificial origins

Islands of Greece by size

NASA image of Crete Island of Crete, Greece.JPG
NASA image of Crete
NASA image of Rhodes Rhodes NLT Landsat7.png
NASA image of Rhodes
Ithaca is to the upper right of the larger Kefalonia island in this picture. The small island in the top-right corner is the uninhabited Atokos island (NASA World Wind satellite picture). Kefallonia IthakiWW.jpg
Ithaca is to the upper right of the larger Kefalonia island in this picture. The small island in the top-right corner is the uninhabited Atokos island (NASA World Wind satellite picture).

The following are the 40 largest Greek islands listed by surface area.

IslandGreek nameArea
(miles2)
Area
(km2)
Cluster
1 Crete Κρήτη3,2198,336Cretan
2 Evia Εύβοια1,4173,670Euboean
3 Lesbos Λέσβος6301,633North Aegean Islands
4 Rhodes Ρόδος5411,401Dodecanese
5 Chíos Χίος325842.3North Aegean Islands
6 Kefalonia Κεφαλονιά302781Ionian Islands
7 Corfu Κέρκυρα229592.9Ionian Islands
8 Lemnos Λήμνος184477.6North Aegean Islands
9 Samos Σάμος184477.4North Aegean Islands
10 Naxos Νάξος166429.8Cyclades
11 Zakynthos Ζάκυνθος157406Ionian Islands
12 Thassos Θάσος147380.1North Aegean Islands
13 Andros Άνδρος147380.0Cyclades
14 Lefkada Λευκάδα117303Ionian Islands
15 Karpathos Κάρπαθος116300Dodecanese
16 Kos Κως112290.3Dodecanese
17 Kythira Κύθηρα108279.6Ionian Islands
18 Icaria Ικαρία99255North Aegean Islands
19 Skyros Σκύρος81209Sporades
20 Paros Πάρος75195Cyclades
21 Tinos Τήνος75194Cyclades
22 Samothrace Σαμοθράκη69178North Aegean Islands
23 Milos Μήλος58151Cyclades
24 Kea Κέα51132Cyclades
25 Amorgos Αμοργός47121Cyclades
26 Kalymnos Κάλυμνος42.5110Dodecanese
27 Ios Ίος41.7108Cyclades
28 Kythnos Κύθνος38.499.4Cyclades
29 Astypalaia Αστυπάλαια37.296.4Dodecanese
30 Ithaca Ιθάκη37.196.2Ionian Islands
31 Salamis Σαλαμίνα37.196.2Argo-Saronic
32 Skopelos Σκόπελος37.196.2Sporades
33 Mykonos Μύκονος33.085.5Cyclades
34 Syros Σύρος32.083.6Cyclades
35 Aegina Αίγινα31.982.6Argo-Saronic
36 Santorini Σαντορίνη29.476.2Cyclades
37 Serifos Σέριφος29.075.2Cyclades
38 Sifnos Σίφνος28.673.9Cyclades
39 Kasos Κάσος26.869.5Dodecanese
40 Alonnisos Αλόννησος24.764.1Sporades

Islands of Greece by population

IslandPopulation
Crete 636,504
Evia 191,206
Rhodes 125,113
Lesbos 83,755
Corfu 102,071
Chios 50,361
Zakynthos 41,180
Salamis 37,220
Kefalonia 36,064
Kos 37,089
Samos 32,642
Lefkada 21,900
Syros 21,507
Naxos 20,578
Lemnos 16,411
Kalymnos 17,752
Santorini 15,480
Thasos 13,104
Paros 14,520
Aegina 12,911
Mykonos 10,704
Tinos 8,934
Andros 8,826
Icaria 8,843
Leros 7,992
Skiathos 5,802
Aitoliko 4,935
Karpathos 6,567
Milos 5,302
Skopelos 4,518
Kythira 3,644
Ithaca 2,862
Patmos 3,283
Skyros 3,052
Samothrace 2,596
Sifnos 2,777
Alonnisos 3,138
Symi 2,603
Kea 2,335
Paxos 2,466
Poros 3,261
Spetses 3,748

Islands of the Aegean Sea

Argo-Saronic Islands

Map this section's coordinates using: OpenStreetMap
Aerial view of the port city of Hydra on Hydra Island Aerial of Hydra island, Greece (43958918185).jpg
Aerial view of the port city of Hydra on Hydra Island

This list includes Argo-Saronic islands, which are located in the Saronic Gulf. The largest Argo-Saronic island is Salamis. The main islands are in bold. Uninhabited islands are indicated, including those that may have been inhabited in the past:

Cretan island

The two lists below show the islands, islets, and rocks that surround the island of Crete that are in the Aegean Sea or Libyan Sea.

Cretan islands of the Aegean Sea

Map this section's coordinates using: OpenStreetMap
The islet of Leon, on the left, next to the larger islet of Souda, within Souda bay Souda Island.jpg
The islet of Leon, on the left, next to the larger islet of Souda, within Souda bay
Spinalonga (Kalydon) 20090620 Spinalogka Elounta panoramic view from the mountain.jpg
Spinalonga (Kalydon)
The islet of Pontikonisi (mouse island) which has the shape of a mouse. Pondikonisi (cropped)01.jpg
The islet of Pontikonisi (mouse island) which has the shape of a mouse.

Cretan islands of the Libyan Sea

Map this section's coordinates using: OpenStreetMap
The islet of Trafos in the Libyan Sea Laseamodern.JPG
The islet of Trafos in the Libyan Sea

Islands on the south coast of Crete are considered in the Libyan Sea.

Cyclades islands

Map this section's coordinates using: OpenStreetMap
Cyclades islands CycladesEng.jpg
Cyclades islands
Iconic windmills of Mykonos The four windmills in Mykonos.JPG
Iconic windmills of Mykonos

The Cyclades islands comprise around 220 islands and islets. The main islands are indicated in bold below. [7] [8]

Dodecanese islands

Map this section's coordinates using: OpenStreetMap
Dodcanese Islands Dodekanes.png
Dodcanese Islands
Harbor of the island of Astypalaia Astipalea.jpg
Harbor of the island of Astypalaia

There are 164 total Dodecanese Islands of which 26 are inhabited. There are 12 main islands, as listed in bold below:

Euboea and surrounding islands

North Aegean islands

There are also two North Aegean islands in the Thracian Sea:

Sporades islands

Map this section's coordinates using: OpenStreetMap
Northern Sporades Nordliche Sporaden topo.png
Northern Sporades

The 30 islands in the Sporades are listed below with the four major islands in bold. The largest Sporades island is Skyros.

Ionian Sea islands

Map this section's coordinates using: OpenStreetMap
Main Ionian Islands Ionian Islands.svg
Main Ionian Islands
Echinades islands Echinades de.png
Echinades islands

Islands in the Ionian Sea are listed below. The seven largest and most popular islands are listed in bold. [13] [14]

Islets close to mainland

The following islands are close to the mainland and not part of a sea:

Islands not in the sea

Lake and river islands

Ioannina island in Lake Pamvotida Nisi Ioannina 5990.jpg
Ioannina island in Lake Pamvotida

Islands in an island

Lagoon islands

See also

Notes

    1. In Greek: Island-Νησί (Nisi), Islet-Νησάκι (Nisáki)

    Related Research Articles

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Geography of Malta</span>

    The geography of Malta is dominated by water. Malta is an archipelago of coralline limestone, located in Europe, in the Mediterranean Sea, 81 kilometres south of Sicily, Italy, and nearly 300 km north (Libya) and northeast (Tunisia) of Africa. Although Malta is situated in Southern Europe, it is located farther south than Tunis, capital of Tunisia, Algiers, capital of Algeria, Tangier in Morocco and also Aleppo in Syria, and Mosul in Iraq in the Middle East. Only the three largest islands – Malta, Gozo and Comino – are inhabited. Other (uninhabited) islands are: Cominotto, Filfla and the St.Paul's Islands. The country is approximately 316 km2 in area. Numerous bays along the indented coastline of the islands provide harbours. The landscape of the islands is characterised by high hills with terraced fields. The highest point, at 253 metres, Ta' Zuta on mainland Malta. The capital is Valletta.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Arctic Archipelago</span> Group of islands in the Arctic Ocean, off the coast of northern Canada

    The Arctic Archipelago, also known as the Canadian Arctic Archipelago, is an archipelago lying to the north of the Canadian continental mainland, excluding Greenland and Iceland.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Second Happy Time</span> Period of naval battles during the Second World War

    The Second Happy Time was a phase in the Battle of the Atlantic during which Axis submarines attacked merchant shipping and Allied naval vessels along the east coast of North America. The First Happy Time was in 1940–1941 in the North Atlantic and North Sea. Adolf Hitler and Benito Mussolini declared war on the United States on 11 December 1941, and as a result their navies could begin the Second Happy Time.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Extreme points of the European Union</span>

    This is a list of the extreme points of the European Union — the points that are farther north, south, east or west than any other location.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Rivers of Ireland</span> Overview of rivers in Ireland

    Shown here are all the major rivers and tributaries of Ireland with their lengths. Starting with the Northern Ireland rivers, and going in a clockwise direction, the rivers are listed in regard to their entry into the different seas: the Irish Sea, the Celtic Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. Also shown are two tables. Table 1 shows the longest rivers in Ireland with their lengths, the counties they flow through, and their catchment areas. Table 2 shows the largest rivers in Ireland in cubic metres per second.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Kayangel</span> State in Palau

    Kayangel (Ngcheangel) is the northernmost state of Palau 24 km (15 mi) north of Koror. The land area is about 1.4 km2 (0.54 sq mi). The population is 54. There is one hamlet in the state - Orukei which is also its capital.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">National Wildlife Area</span> Conservation status for a geographical region in Canada

    A National Wildlife Area is a conservation designation for a geographical region in Canada that restricts most human activities on that region. However, land use permits may be issued "for activities that are compatible with conservation". Such areas are established and managed by the Canadian Wildlife Service, a division of Environment and Climate Change Canada. They may consist of land and water features, as well as coastal areas extending up to 12 nautical miles (22 km) from shore.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Geography of Greece</span>

    Greece is a country in Southeastern Europe, on the Balkan Peninsula. It is bordered to the north by Albania, North Macedonia and Bulgaria; to the east by Turkey, and is surrounded to the east by the Aegean Sea, to the south by the Cretan and the Libyan seas, and to the west by the Ionian Sea which separates Greece from Italy.

    Akça is a Turkish island shaped like a shellfish near the biggest city of the Turkish Aegean coast Izmir. It is an uninhabited island and there are only bushes on the island. It is situated between Arap Islands, Yassıca Island, Çiçek Islands, Körtaş Islands and İncirli Island. It is off the coast of Port of Urla. It is a small island surrounded with turquoise waters, thus it is a swimming spot for the residents of Izmir in summertime.

    Kilmore is a civil and ecclesiastical parish of County Cavan in Ireland. It is located about 3.5 miles (5.6 km) south-west of the county town of Cavan.

    Karataş Islets are two Mediterranean islets in Turkey.

    Yılan Island or Da Vinci Island is an Aegean island of Turkey. It was formerly known in Greek as Nisida Erimo.

    References

    1. John S. Bowman; Sherry Marker; Peter Keraislands siotis; Heidi Sarna (2010). "Greece in depth". Frommer's Greece (7th ed.). Hoboken, NJ: Wiley Publishing. p. 12. ISBN   978-0-470-52663-7.
    2. 1 2 "Islands". Visit Greece - Official website of the Greek National Tourism Organisation. Hellenic Organization of Tourism (EOT; Ελληνικός Οργανισμός Τουρισμού). Retrieved 7 February 2022.
    3. Poffley, Frewin (20 December 2012). Greek island hopping, 23rd ed. 2013. Thomas Cook Publishing. p. 15. ISBN   978-1-84848-569-3. OCLC   827800689.
    4. Google Maps
    5. 1 2 "Islands of Greece". GeoNames . Retrieved 6 November 2021.
    6. "Nisida Agio Pantes". GeoNames . Retrieved 10 November 2021.
    7. "Tageo Worldwide Index for Greece Islands". Tageo, www.tageo.com. Retrieved 24 March 2020.(in English)
    8. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 "Islands of the Cyclades". GeoNames. Retrieved 13 November 2021.
    9. "Glaronisi, South Aegean". GeoNames . Retrieved 10 November 2021.
    10. "Mikro Glaronisi". GeoNames . Retrieved 10 November 2021.
    11. "Mikro Sofrano". GeoNames . Retrieved 10 November 2021.
    12. "Nerónisi". GeoNames . Retrieved 10 November 2021.
    13. "Ionian Islands of Greece". GeoNames . Retrieved 12 November 2021.
    14. Kruse, Hellas, vol. ii. pt. ii. p. 455, seq.; Leake, Northern Greece, vol. iii. pp. 30, seq., 50, seq.; Mure, Tour in Greece, vol. i. p. 104.