Poros

Infobox Greek Isles
name = Poros
native_name = Πόρος
skyline = Poros Greece.jpg
sky_caption = Poros Town


coordinates = coord|37|31|N|23|29|E|display=inline|region:GR_type:isle
chain = Saronic Islands
isles =
area = 49.582
highest_mount = Vigla
elevation = 358
periph = Attica
prefect = Piraeus
capital = Poros (city)
population = 4348
pop_as_of = 2001
postal = 180 20
telephone = 22980
license = YI, YK, YM, YN
website = [http://www.poros.com.gr www.poros.com.gr]

Poros ( _el. Πόρος) is a small Greek island-pair in the southern part of the Saronic Gulf, at a distance about 58 km (31 nautical miles) south from Piraeus and separated from the Peloponnese by a 200-metre wide sea channel. Its surface is about 31 square kilometres (12 square miles) and it has 4,117 inhabitants. The town of Poros has 4,102 of these inhabitants. The only other inhabited settlement is Ágios Nektários (pop. 15). The ancient name of Poros was Pogon.

Poros consists of two islands: Sphairia or Sferia, the southern part, which is of volcanic origin, where today's city is located, and Kalaureia, also Kalavria or Calauria (meaning 'gentle breeze'), the northern and largest part. A bridge connects the two islands over a narrow isthmus. The Municipality of Poros also includes a part of the mainland, Kyaní Aktí (pop. 231), at the easternmost point of the Peloponnese Peninsula, between the island of Poros and the island of Hydra and next to the municipalities of Troizina and Ermioni. [http://www.ypes.gr/kapodistrias/images/i_att42.gifmap] The total land area of the municipality is 49.582 km², and the total population is 4,348 persons.

Poros is an island with rich vegetation. Much of the northern and far eastern/western sides of the island are bushy, whereas large areas of old pine forest are found in the south and center of the island. It has a good road network and adequate tourist infrastructure, which makes it a popular resort for short holidays. Though possessing no airport, it is easily accessible from Athens via ferry or hydrofoil or from the adjacent mainland at Galatas.

Geography

The landscape is very hilly and mountainous. The highest peak is the Vigla (358 m) in the west-central part. Following the island's topography and geology, small creeks and seasonal streams flow through steep valleys of the southern and northeastern part. The western and northern part of the island feature smooth hills and shallow valleys. Sandy beaches are restricted to the southern shore of the island, except for a bay in the northern part called Vayionia.

Geology

The geology of the island comprises Mesozoic to Cenozoic sedimentary rocks (limestone, and Flysch-type sandstone) and ophiolites, as well as Neogene volcanic rocks on Sferia. The island is tectonically dissected and part of a Tertiary tectonic mélange. There are karstic sinkholes in the island's central limestone massif, and limestone caves with stalactites. Visible marine fossils are mainly found in the limestone, no occurrences of precious stones or ore deposits are known.

History

Recent studies suggest that Poros has been inhabited since the Bronze Age. Graves on the island have been dated to the Mycenaean period, and manmade structures have existed on it since at least 1000 BCE.

Antiquity

The ancient polis of Kalaureia was home to an asylum dedicated to Poseidon, the ruins of which are still accessible on a hilltop close to the town. This asylum may have been linked to the sanctuaries at Geraistos and Tainaros. Ancient historians claimed that Poros was home to an Amphictyony in the Archaic period, a league of the poleis Poros, Athens, Prassiai, Aegina, Epidaurus, Hermione, Troizene, Nauplion and Orchomenus. However, there is no evidence for this, and modern scholars believe the Amphictyony may have been a Hellenistic invention. An enormous feast was found dating to the Hellenistic period in the ruins of the Kalaureia asylum, along with a plaque celebrating the "revival" of the Kalaureian League.

Byzantine/Ottoman Era

In Byzantine times, Poros and other islands were often raided by pirates. During the Ottoman occupation Poros remained independent, and helped neighbouring islands after the start of the Greek War of Independence.

Modern Era

Poros was ravaged by a forest fire that damaged the woods inland of Megalo Neorio, in the southwest of the larger island of Kalavria on June 26, 2007; it also destroyed three houses and threatened two hotels. The view from the Saronic Gulf resembled a disaster and it could be seen plainly from the mainland. The cause of the fire was the enormous heatwave that plagued Southeastern Europe at that time, causing temperatures to soar above 45 degrees. The cause of the fire was a pole-mounted electrical transformer that overheated and caught fire, presumably overloaded by the power required by local air-conditioning. It took firefighters on the ground and water-bombing aircraft several hours to control the blaze and the horrific fire was extinguished only in the latter part of the day.

Greek authorities rescued 278 passengers and 35 crew members March 13 2008 after the small cruise ship "Giorgis" ran aground near the island of Poros. [http://edition.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/europe/03/13/greece.ship/index.html]

Landmarks

*The picturesque town of Poros with its beautiful neoclassical buildings is built amphitheatrically on the slopes of a hill. Its most famous landmark is a clock tower, built in 1927.

*The Archaeological Museum at Korizis Square houses findings from the Sanctuary of Poseidon, from ancient Troizene, and from other archaeological sites nearby.

*In the northern part of the island there are the remains of the Sanctuary of Poseidon, the centre of the Kalaureian amphictyony. The exact date it was built is not known, although researchers estimate it to have been around 520 BC. The dimensions of the temple, which is of the Doric order, are 27.4×14.4 m. There are six columns on each short side and twelve on each long side. It was here that Demosthenes, the famous orator, poisoned himself with hemlock in 322 BC fleeing from the Macedonian Governor Antipatros.

*Poros was the site of the first naval base in modern Greece, established in 1827 during the Greek War of Independence. Most of the activities of Poros naval base were moved to Salamis Naval Base in 1881. The site is still used today by the Hellenic Navy as a training centre for naval personnel.

Historical population

Notable people

*Alexandros Koryzis (1885-1941) Prime Minister of Greece

ee also

*List of volcanoes in Greece
*List of municipalities of Attica, including the Saronic

References

External links

* [http://www.poros.com.gr/?lang=en Poros Island official website]
* [http://www.kalaureia.org/ Kalaureia Archaeological Excavations]