Zaforas

The Sofrana Islands (Greek nisídes Sofrana νησίδες Σοφρανά ) are a small group of three uninhabited islets in the Carpathian Sea, about 55 kilometers south of the island Astypalia with a total area of ​​1.4 km ². More nearer islands are the Cycladic island of Anafi around 56 kilometers north-west and Karpathos, located approximately 75 kilometers southeast. The islands are administered by the municipality Astypalia the Greek region South Aegean. The name of the eponymous main island, also called Zaforas, is related to the Greek word Zafora ζαφορά, saffron ' together, which refers to the spread in the Aegean Crocus Crocus kind cartwrightianus. The Italian name of the main island is Zafrana (Italian zafferano, saffron ').

With 1.281 km ² Megalo Sofrano is by far the largest of the islands, followed by micro Sofrano with 0.104 km ².

The individual islands

Nature

Due to its remote location and because they are surrounded by deep sea, make the islands an important resting place for migratory birds and breeding area for seabirds and a major terrestrial ecosystem represents the flora is characterized by the presence of endemic species and so-called " small island specialists ".

Flora

The vegetation is dominated by Phrygana stocks and the coastal area of halophytes. Significant is the presence of " small island specialists " Silene holzmannii micro Sofrano, the Chamomile Anthemis scopulorum and the Rock resident Asperula tournefortii and other Aegean endemics.

Fauna

In addition, some rare species of reptiles come as the Aegean nude finger ( Mediodactylus kotschyi ) and erhardii with Podarcis zafranae before an endemic subspecies of the Cycladic wall lizard.

Conservation

Together with other uninhabited rocky islands form the Sofrana Islands in the Natura 2000 network of protected areas in the southern Aegean Sea, a site of Community importance ( SCI) GR 4210011 Vrachonisia Egeou: Velopoula, Falkonera, Ananes, Christiana, Paxia, Fteno, Makra, Astakidonisia, Syrna Gyro Nisia ( Βραχονήσια Νοτίου Αιγαίου: Βελοπούλα, Φαλκονέρα, Ανάνες, Χριστιανά, Παχειά, Φτενό, Μακρά, Αστακιδονήσια, Σύρνα - Γύρω νησιά ).

Because of their importance for rare, brooding here bird species such as Eleonora's falcon (Falco eleonorae ) and Audouin's Gull (Larus audouinii ) are the islands as European bird sanctuary GR4210023 islands of the Carpathian Sea: Megalo Sofano, Sochas, micro Sofrano, Avgo, Divounia, Chamili, Astakidonisia ( Νησίδες Καρπάθιου Πελάγους: Μεγάλο Σοφράνο, Σοχάς, Μικρό Σοφράνο, Αυγό, Διβούνια, Χαμηλή, Αστακιδονήσια ) and are classified as " Important Bird Area " GR173 Islets of Karpathian Sea ( GR173 Νησίδες Καρπάθιου Πελάγους ).