Agios Efstratios
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Called The Greek island of Agios Efstratios (Greek Άγιος Ευστράτιος ( m. sg. ) ), By the inhabitants of Ai Stratis ( Άη Στράτης ), along with some rocky islands forms a community and together with the Regional District Limnos Limnos in the region North Aegean. According to the census of 2011, the island has 270 inhabitants.
The current name is due to the Holy Eustratios that. During the period of Byzantine iconoclasm refuge from Leo III sought on the island.
- 3.1 Flora
- 3.2 Fauna
Location
Agios Efstratios is located in the northern Aegean Sea about 30 km south of Limnos, 60 km northeast of Skyros and 76 km north-west of Lesbos. The island is of volcanic origin, mostly steep coastline interspersed with cliffs and caves. In the northeast is located in the area Alonitsi the largest valley on the island. With a length of 11 km and a max. Width of 6 km is 42.08 km ² large island. Since several mountains have a height of 300 m, vary the information on the level and mountain depending on the source location. The Simadi ( Σημάδι ) is given as 298 m ( 288 m). The Lemoni Rachi also with 298 m
In the vicinity of Agios Efstratios are numerous Felseninselchen of which Daskalio, Velia and the Agii Apostoli are the greatest.
History
Settlement remains from different periods at various points suggest that the island was inhabited since the 3rd millennium BC to the Byzantine period. So Bronze Age settlement remains dating from the 3rd millennium BC, a Mycenaean settlement, an ancient city and an ancient graveyard could be detected.
Because of ongoing until the late 14th century pirate raids, the island was probably abandoned during the 15th century. The Ottoman cartographer Piri Reis described it in 1520 as uninhabited. Middle of the 16th century, the island was repopulated in today's harbor bay.
The earthquake on 19 February 1968, the magnitude 7.2 on the Richter scale with its epicenter southwest of the island destroyed the port and the eponymous capital of the island almost completely. Built in 1727 Basilica of Agios Vasilios ( Άγιος Βασίλειος ) was one of the few buildings that withstood the earthquake. Because of the strong destruction of the city was rebuilt on higher altitudes site.
The rural municipality of Agios Efstratios ( Kinotita Agiou Efstratiou Κοινότητα Αγίου Ευστρατίου ) was founded in 1918. With the implementation of the administrative reform in 2010 Agios Efstratios received the status of a municipality ( Dimos Agiou Efstratiou Δήμος Αγίου Ευστρατίου ).
Exile
Between 1928 and 1963 many political prisoners were exiled to the remote island. From 1936 to 1948 there were 300 prisoners. A total of 6,000 opposition activists have been detained, had to organize their own lives. The prisoners lived mostly in tents and built themselves huts. Due to malnutrition and disease, there were numerous deaths. Among the prisoners were the poet and writer Giannis Ritsos, Tasos Livaditis, Kostas and Nikos Varnalis Karouzos, the composer Mikis Theodorakis and Manos Katrakis the actor.
The politician and resistance fighter Euripides Bakirtzis was exiled twice to Agios Efstratios.
Flora and Fauna
Flora
Agios Efstratios is covered more than 60% with the typical representatives of the Phrygana and scrub. Here grows the thorny knapweed (Centaurea spinosa). In the north- east there is an absent-minded stock of Valonea oak (Quercus macrolepis ). Near the village are also white willow (Salix alba ), white poplar (Populus alba) and chaste tree ( Vitex agnus castus ) ago. Viticulture was operated until 1968, after the earthquake, there were changes in terrain which the vines withered and died off.
Fauna
The cliffs and caves of the cliff offer the Mediterranean monk seal (Monachus monachus) habitat and protection. The type is in the national and international Red List as critically endangered (CR - Critically Endangered ) classified.
The entire island and the adjacent marine area are as European bird sanctuary GR Agios Efstratios 4110014 ( Νήσος Άγιος Ευστράτιος και θαλάσσια ζώνη ) included in the European Natura 2000 habitat connectivity because important bird species breed here. On the islands of the northern Aegean are the most important colonies of shags. The breeding areas on Agios Efstratios are in inaccessible locations of the rugged cliffs and on the small offshore islets. Of the estimated 1,000 to 1,200 pairs in Greece breed up to 60 on the island. Estimates assume that hibernate up to 50 birds on the island. In addition, the island is the breeding area of up to 300 pairs of Eleonora's falcon and Manx shearwater ( Puffinus puffinus ).
The herpetofauna of Agios Efstratios includes four types Mediodactylus kotschyi, Ophisops elegans, Ophisaurus apodus and Coluber caspius.
Economy
Most of the approximately 200 permanent residents live in the same harbor mainly from fishing. For self- care are chickens and goats and operated by a few larger farmers farming with livestock (sheep and cows). Until the 1960s, the acorns of the oak Valonea were collected.
Tourism plays on the regular ferries from Limnos island far out to reach a minor role. It has beautiful beaches, but these are often contaminated with plastic waste or sheep carcasses.