Skiathos

Infobox Greek Isles
name = Skiathos
native_name = Σκιάθος
skyline = Greece-Skiathos-Mpourtzi at dawn.jpg
sky_caption = The Bourtzi of Skiathos at dawn.


coordinates = coord|39|10|N|23|29|E|display=inline,title|region:GR_type:isle
chain = Sporades
isles =
area = 49.898
highest_mount =
elevation = 436
periph = Thessaly
prefect = Magnesia
capital = Skiathos (town)
population = 6160
pop_as_of = 2001
postal = 37x xx, 38x xx
telephone = 242x0
license = BO
website = [http://www.skiathos.gr www.skiathos.gr]

Skiathos (Greek: Σκιάθος), Latin forms: Sciathos and Sciathus is a small island in the Aegean Sea belonging to Greece. Near Skopelos, it consists of the main town (Skiathos (town)) and the communities of Koukounaries, Kanapitsa, Vromolimnos and Troullos. Skiathos is the westernmost island in the Sporades group of islands. The mainland of Greece along with Magnesia are to the west. The name of the island dates back to ancient times.

The island of Skiathos has 70 beaches all around it. Skiathos town is a port which shelters small boats and from where ferry services connect to Skopelos, Volos, Agios Konstantinos and the rest of Greece.

The Municipality of Skíathos includes the offshore islands of Tsougria and Repio, and has a total land area of 49.898 km². Its largest towns are Skíathos (pop. 4,988 in 2001), Χánemos (195), Kalývia (179), Troúllos (159), and Koukounariés (126).

The new famous movie 'Mamma Mia' was filmed on this island and you can see the church where the wedding was filmed

Geography

Much of the island is forested. The area around the villages and Skiathos Town are farmland. The island's forests are pine and are located in the southeastern part of the island. The island of Skopelos can be seen from Skiathos with the more distant islands of Euboea and Scyros also visible in clearer conditions. The mountaintop, which has a communications tower, is to the west. The slope of the hill is to the north and contains several valleys.

Skiathos has approximately 70 beaches including one nudist beach at south end of the island in a resort called Banana.

=2007 forest fire=

On Wednesday, 11 July 2007, a fire, sparked at a garbage dump near the beach at Aghia Paraskevi, grew into a forest fire which spread across the island. Aghia Paraskevi was evacuated of all residents and tourists to nearby Troulos, which returned after the fire was put out.cite news |url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,,-6775792,00.html |title=Fire Scorches Greek Tourist Island |date=2007-07-12 |accessdate=2008-01-28 |last=Ross |first=John F.L. |work=Associated Press |publisher=Guardian Unlimited]

Transportation

The island is linked to mainland Greece with sea routes from Thessaloniki, Volos and Agios Konstantinos and also to the rest of the Sporades (all by hydrofoil, Hellenic Seaways). There also exists an airport at the northeast of the island, Skiathos Island National Airport.

The roads are to the south and to the east and to the northwest. There are no gravel roads to the central and the northern part. There is only one major road and is linked with all of the four settlements on the island. The one linking to the northwest are not used and has the view of the eastern part of Magnesia.

Persons

*Alexandros Papadiamantis (1851-1911) writer
*Alexandros Moraytidis
*Charalambos Garyfallou

Landmarks

*Skiathos (town) ("Chora")
*Agia Paraskevi
*Koukounaries
*Bourtzi
*Lalaria beach
*Evangelistria Monastery
*Kastro

References

External links

* [http://www.skiathos.gr/ Official website] en el icon