Elafonisos
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Elafonisos (Greek Ελαφόνησος ( f sg ) ), is a small island between the Peloponnese and the Greek island of Kythira. Due to its location in the Ionian Sea it shall be taken to the Ionian Islands. The area of the island is about 19 km ², highest point is 276 m above sea Vardia. d M. It is about 570 m from the village in the Peloponnese Pavlopetri away. Along with some small surrounding islets and a 3 km ² comprehensive coastal strip on the mainland opposite, it forms the municipality Elafonisos in the Peloponnese region. The municipality comprises the main town Elafonisos ( 779 ) and the settlements capari ( 39 inhabitants in 2011 ), Kato Nisi (140) Lefki (19) and Pounda (17 ) on the mainland.
Elafonisos is separated by the Straits of Elafonisos of Kythira, which is about 4.5 nautical miles south of the island.
History
In ancient times Elafonisos was not an island but as a peninsula onou Gnathos ( " donkey teeth ", inferred from their outline ) to the Peloponnese. The present name Elafonisos means " deer island ": Pausanias reports on various shrines of Artemis. It is believed that there were animals of the goddess in the area. In maps of the Republic of Venice from the 15th century, the island is as Cervi: called ( Italian " deer "). In the 15th and 16th century, the island was raided the base of pirates, the ships in the Strait of Elafonisos between the island of Kythira and as a busy trade route. Actual settlements there was not at that time. 1837 the government of the newly independent Greece issued a decree for settlement of Elafonisos what 1839-1849 serious diplomatic disputes with the United Kingdom had the consequence that claimed the island for the Republic of the Ionian Islands. After a blockade of Greek ports in 1850 by the British Navy, which Greece could finish only by extensive reparations, the British claim was dropped. Thereafter, wandered settlers from the opposite mainland lying to the island. The termination of piracy from the island by the Greek navy was the key factor to allow the settlement.
The same tiny island in the southwest of Crete Elafonisi allegedly owes its name to fishermen from Elafonisos who chose this name because of the similarity of the green-gold sea of the area with the sea in Elafonisos.
Economy
In addition to one of the largest fishing fleets still in the Aegean Sea and the traditional shipbuilding especially the summer tourism is the crucial economic factor in the island. In winter here live only a few hundred people, but in July and August every day there are about 5,000 visitors. The port of Elafonisos hosts a large number of traditional fishing boats. The four main beaches on the island are Sarakiniko, Simos, Lefki and Panagia.