Kythnos

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The Greek island of Kythnos (Greek Kύθvoς ( f sg ) ) is one of the western Cyclades. They, together with the rock island Piperi a municipality ( δήμος, Dimos ) in the region South Aegean. On the island of 1,456 inhabitants live on in the eponymous capital of 561.

Geography

Location

Together with Kea, Serifos and Sifnos forms Kythnos the Western, running from north to south island chain of the Cyclades. Kythnos is about 11.5 km south east of Kea and more than 13 kilometers north of Serifos. The island of Syros is 33 km and the uninhabited island piperidine 8.7 km to the east. From the Cape Kefalos in the north to Cape Agios Dimitrios, the length is about 21 km. The width is in east-west direction between 8.6 km and 3.6 km. The area is 99.432 km ².

The morphology of the island is characterized by hilly to mountainous terrain, as well as a highly indented coastline with numerous small bays. Two runs from northeast to south-southwest northern mountain ranges dominate the island. The smaller the northwest is aligned nearly parallel to the coast and, with the Kakovolo ( Κακόβολο 356 m), the highest point on the island dar. on the northeast coast of the spa is Loutra ( Λουτρά ) on the bay ( Ormos Loutron Όρμος Λουτρών ). Separately, the mountain ranges through the plateau with its capital Kythnos to about 100 m. The Prophet Elias east of Kythnos is 326 m highest point of the second mountain train. This is initially lower to the south. The Petrovouni ( Πετροβούνι 211 m) and the premium ( Αγιος 263 m ) form the transition to Larni - Merovigli mountain chain ( Λάρνι - Μεροβίγλι ) south of Dryopis, the highest elevation is 318 m. After that, the island narrows rapidly, the heights reached by 200 m. The terrain is rugged with some steep sloping rocky coast. Numerous small streams drain the dry winter precipitation, river basins are under 2 km ².

History

Archaeological excavations by a settlement of the Mesolithic was exposed with some graves dating from the 9th millennium BC in Maroulas in the Northeast. It is the oldest known place in the Cyclades. The mining and smelting of copper during the early Bronze Age ( FK II ) is known from several sites. The site Skouries shows that the natural local conditions were used for melting out. Instructions on the extraction of copper to give a number of artifacts. In addition, several of slate -scale circular structures are interpreted as melting furnaces. Since copper was processed by Sifnos, Skouries is regarded as a company specializing in the extraction of copper site and central copper smelter in the Aegean. Analyzes confirm the trade of rendered copper on the mainland and Crete.

Community structure

The community Kythnos is divided into two local communities. According to the 2011 census had sie1.456 inhabitants. This mainly live in the two largest places Messaria or Kythnos ( locally also Chora, 561 inhabitants) and Dryopis ( locally also Chorio, 325 inhabitants).

Infrastructure

From the port of Merichas there are regular connections with Lavrio, Piraeus and to the neighboring islands.

The two buses for public transport are privately owned. Be operating the routes of Merichas on Kythnos to Loutra and of Merichas about Dryopis Panagia Kanala.

For emergencies, there is a helipad.

The supply of Kythnos was to commissioning of the first wind farms in Europe exclusively by an oil power plant. In 1982 five wind turbines were included with a power of 100 kW into the grid. A 100 kW photovoltaic system followed a year later. Both plants were later integrated into an autonomous central hybrid power plant. Within the framework of several projects funded by the EU, the system has been continuously improved and expanded. Under optimal conditions, the hybrid power plant has a power output of 765 kW. In the current requirement that diesel engines can be turned off completely.

Economy

Even today, fishing and agriculture are rather poor on the barren island as the main sources of income. As a holiday island of Kythnos is mainly frequented by Athenians. Near Dryopis is the show cave Katafiki. In Loutra there is also a small spa with hot springs against women's diseases.

Kolona beach at Merichas

Loutra, small harbor town with hot springs

Waters of the hot springs in Loutra

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