Gozo

Gozo ( paints Għawdex [ aʊ deʃ ː ] ) is the second largest island of the archipelago of the Republic of Malta.

Geography and infrastructure

Gozo lies about six kilometers north- west of the main island of the Maltese archipelago. The surface area is 67 square kilometers, the longest dimension measures 14 kilometers and the coastline is 43 kilometers long. In the western part of Gozo reached its highest elevation 176 meters.

In two places about 31,000 people live, most in the island's capital Victoria (Rabat ) with about 6,800 inhabitants. The remaining settlements are rural character, in each of which no more than 2,000 people live.

The connection to the island of Malta is ensured by car ferries (for example, Gozo Channel Line) who commute during the day in 45 -minute intervals between the Gozohafen Mgarr and the ferry dock Ċirkewwa on the northwest coast of Malta back and forth. Also, at times there was a regular helicopter connection that has been implemented over the five kilometers west of the island's capital located landing at Xewkija and the Luqa Airport in Malta. During the Second World War, was built as part of the landing in Sicily a makeshift airfield for the U.S. Armed Forces. After two months of operation, this was abandoned and used for agriculture again. Since the late 1960s, there are always plans for the construction of an airfield. Currently, there is a water type aircraft de Havilland Canada DHC -3 of the Harbour Air Malta flying between the harbor in Mgarr and the Grand Harbour in Valletta.

Almost all roads in Gozo are aligned in the direction of the island's capital Victoria. In particular, there is no ring road on which we could along the coast around the island. There is Gozo - as well as on the main island of Malta - left-hand traffic.

The Public transport consists of a system of several bus lines. These start up on the line 322, which leads directly from Mgarr Ferry to Marsalforn, all at the central bus station in Victoria and run from there to the various villages, to the coast. There is a fixed schedule, this is clocked rule, usually in Einstundentakt from a few stations every half hour. In general, one has from the central bus terminal in Victoria shortly to other destinations, ie between 30 minutes and one hour.

Operator ARRIVA was 2 1/2 years, drives modern buses made ​​in China and is clearly trying to punctuality that almost always succeeds. Timetables and a map will be provided free of charge. A day ticket costs 2.60 € for tourists, the 7- day ticket formerly 12 € now 6.50.

Timetables with departure times and a general plan will be handed out for free in Victoria. The service is gladly accepted by tourists and in particular the population of Gozo compared to the previous, non-clocked. From Victoria to Mgarr Ferry operates direct line 301, the schedule of this line is adapted to the laying time of each ferries and thus. Within a 45 - min intervals

ARRIVA - until the end of 2013 subsidiary of Deutsche Bahn - is to be nationalized on January 2, 2014 Transport Malta. The transport company has made 35 million euro loss since 2011. The population regrets this because the power of year has become ever better year, for example, timing, punctuality and prices concerning. Many drivers and other staff are very friendly and helpful.

The nationalization of Transport Malta should be temporary. Allegedly, various local companies (including Paramount Malta and Cancu coaches ) interested, without specifying how future deficits can be collected. Companies and trade unions emphasize that it would be for employees and users from 2 January not change ( " Business as Usual "). However, should substantially on current network change, this could be the quality of life and amenity of residents and visitors as well as the air quality ( again more car hire ) worsen very. Currently, the good service has not deteriorated even improved: Due to a " warning " by the EU tourists now pay the same low prices as the local population, which is probably also at the expense of the taxpayer.

Main industry in Gozo is agriculture, in which about 1,000 people are employed. For a quarter of them it is only a sideline. After all, agriculture is so intense operated that Gozo can supply the entire Maltese archipelago to 60 percent, which included food. In addition, the sea salt production and the limestone mining play a role as economic factors. More and more wins tourism as Einnahmeque important.

History

On Gozo lived in the 5th millennium BC people who are probably immigrated from Sicily. Even before the middle of the 4th millennium, they built on the plateau south of the present-day village Xaghra Neolithic Ġgantija temple complex, one of the oldest of the archipelago. Three thousand years later, the Phoenicians gave the island the name " gol ", the following Greeks and Romans later developed " Gaulus ", and only from the 14th century AD, is the present name known.

In July 1551 Ottomans invaded under Sinan Pasha and Turgut Reis Gozo, abducted all able-bodied inhabitants as slaves to Libya. Then, the fortifications of the island were amplified by the Order of Malta. For the Order of Gozo was a not insignificant economic factor, because on the island exposed rock Fungus Rock they reaped the only occuring in Maltese sponge, a plant, which they attributed hemostatic effect, and it in addition to their application for a lot of money to the European royal houses sold. Later it turned out that the plant does not show any medical effects.

As the Knights of Malta under their Grand Master Ferdinand von Hompesch to Bolheim 1798 without a fight Napoleon's troops showed coveted Gozo's population against the occupation of their island by the French on. The landed on the island in September soldiers were captured and fixed in the citadel of Rabat. In the following October Gozo exclaimed his independence and took the name " La Nazione Gozitana " ( The State of Gozo). With the occupation of the Maltese archipelago by the British independence again in September 1800 had been an end. ( See also Main article: La Nazione Gozitana )

The British rule owes Gozo, among others, the excavation of Ġgantija temple, which was arranged in 1827 by the British island commander Otto Bayer, 1897 made ​​renaming their capital Rabat in Victoria and in 1915 the establishment of the city parks of Victoria.

1987 became Gozo back a piece of autonomy, when the island was raised together with its neighboring island of Comino into an independent county. For this county especially a minister was appointed with private budget.

Flora and Fauna

Especially in the spring months, Gozo is much greener than its sister island of Malta. This is due to three factors: On the one located on the barren limestone, all Maltese Islands consist of the main, more fertile soil deposited as on Malta, which forms a basis for plant growth. Furthermore, there is in Gozo several underground water resources that could be drilled for agricultural activities in the country. And finally, the population density in Gozo is significantly lower than in Malta, so that leave large open spaces between cities. The Gozitan call their island therefore like Green Island, although the vegetation of Central European conditions compared still looks very sparse. The English brought the flat-leaf Opuntia to Malta, which was not endemic here.

Religion

Since 1864 exists on Gozo own diocese. It belongs to the Archdiocese of Malta, has 15 parishes with 165 diocesan priests and 23 religious priests and an area of 67 km ². Of the more than 30,000 residents are 98 % Catholics. There are also 109 nuns. Mario Grech was born on 26 November 2005 by Pope Benedict XVI. appointed as successor to Bishop Nikol Cauchi J. to the local bishop. Ta ' Pinu is an important pilgrimage center in the west of Gozo.

Attractions

In West Gozo, Dwejra the area referred to, is the main attraction of the island.

• The linked by a tunnel to the sea Inland Sea, a small, salt-water lake fed by the sea
• The Fungus Rock, the home of the Maltese sponge
• The Azure Window ( paints Tieqa Zerqa ) is a naturally formed rock arch
• The salt pans
• The Aqueduct of Kerċem

Built on a hill, 150 meters above the sea, visible from afar Giordan Lighthouse is the only lighthouse of Gozo. To the north on the coast, the Wied il - Mielah Window is, another naturally formed rock arch.

On the north coast, east of Marsalforn, above the Ramla Bay, is the Calypso Cave ( Calypso Grotto ), of the one claiming there had Odysseus lived seven years with the nymph Calypso. Since 2011, the cave is considered to be in danger of collapse and is closed to the public.

The dive sites of Gozo count because of the magnificent underwater scenery, wrecks and caves and the clear view to the best in the Mediterranean, the most famous dive sites are Xwejni Bay, Double Arch, Reqqa Point, Inland Sea, Blue Hole, Billinghurst Cave, Azure Window.

Archaeological monuments are

• Ġgantija
• Brochtorff Circle