Saint Eustratius (Island)

Infobox Greek Isles
name = Saint Eustratius
native_name = Άγιος Ευστράτιος
skyline = Agios_Efstratios_Village.jpg
sky_caption = Saint Eustratius village


coordinates = coord|39|31|N|25|00|E
chain = North Aegean
isles =
area = 43.325
highest_mount =
elevation =
periph = North Aegean
prefect = Lesbos
capital = Saint Eustratius (town)
population = 371
pop_as_of = 2001
postal = 815 xx
telephone = 22540-x
license = ΜΗ, ΜΥ
website =

Agios Efstratios or Saint Eustratius (Greek: Άγιος Ευστράτιος) is a small Greek island in the northern Aegean Sea about 30 km southwest of Lemnos and 80 km northwest of Lesbos. The three islands with nearby islets form the prefecture of Lesbos, part of the Greek archipelagic periphery of the North Aegean.

Name

The island was named after Saint Eustratius, who lived on the island in the ninth century as an exile, because he was opposed to the iconoclastic politics of the Byzantine Emperor Leon the Armenian. His supposed grave is still being shown by the inhabitants.

Geography

Agios Efstratios is quiet, isolated and dry, with a population of approximately 300 people. The climate is arid, with little rainfall during the winter months and long, hot summers. The landscape is mostly rocky, with scarce and low vegetation. Crops are insignificant; the surrounding sea, however, is rich in fish which are fished by local fishermen. There are numerous beaches on the island such as Agios Antonios, Lemonies, Avlakia and others, most of which are reached by caique. Agios Efstratios Island is linked by boat with Limnos, Agios Konstantinos, Kymi and Kavala.

Recent political history

The island was used to house political prisoners in internal exile during the 1930s. In 1968, an earthquake demolished most of the houses, which were replaced by concrete prefabricated buildings laid out in a military-like camp formation. Nonetheless, the island retains a very attractive capital, also called Agios Efstratios, while preserving a rather unspoiled Mediterranean environment with pristine beaches. It is mostly a place for relaxation and meditation. In the 1970s, the island was again used as an offshore prison for political dissidents. One of its most famous prisoners was Mikis Theodorakis, political activist and musical composer.

February 2007 NATO exercise

On February 26, 2007, Turkey for the first time objected to the scheduled NATO military exercise in the North Aegean sea, on the grounds that the island was a demilitarized zone. The exercise was organized by the Greek Combined Air Operations Centre (CAOC-7) for February, 27, commanded by Greek Air Force General based at Larissa. The day before, the commander of the Turkish Combined Air Operations Centre (CAOC-6) at Eskisehir notified the American NATO Air Force commander General Lee McFann that the island is considered demilitarized by Turkey and the exercise should be canceled. McFann canceled the exercise without further investigating even without notifying CAOC-7. He justified this by stating that NATO remains neutral when there is a disagreement between two member countries. The Greek Operation Centre also canceled the exercise due to bad weather conditions. After the incident became known, the Greek government formally complained to NATO.

References

External links

* [http://www.inlesvos.gr/porto/ai_stratis/ai_stratis.swf Agios Efstratios Sea Pilot]