Kalamos (island)
Encyclopedia
Kálamos is a mountainous island and a former community
in the Ionian Islands
, Greece
. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Lefkada
, of which it is a municipal unit. It lies east of Lefkada, near the Greek mainland. It has an overwintering population of around 600 people, which is swelled substantially in the summer by tourists. The name Kalamos
means reed
in Greek
. Its population was 543 at the 2001 census. The land area is 24.964 km², and its highest point is 754 m above sea level.
The main settlement on the island is the port town of Kálamos (pop. 483), on the east coast of the island. From here a regular ferry service connects the island to Mytikas on the mainland. Episkopi (pop. 60) is the only other inhabited village on the island. The village of Kefali, also known by its Venetian name Porto Leone was abandoned following the 1953 earthquake
, which destroyed the water supply, but its church is still in use.
In the early 1990s, the water system was rebuilt and now every household has running water. As well, in recent years, all the foot paths that were once dirt have been upgraded to stone or pavement. Kalamos, once a remote island without electricity
or a proper water
system, now has all the conveniences of the mainland. Its nearest lyceum (middle school) and gymnasium (secondary school) is in the Aitoloakarnania prefecture but most of its students also attend in Nydri
.
Communities and Municipalities of Greece
For the new municipalities of Greece see the Kallikratis ProgrammeThe municipalities and communities of Greece are one of several levels of government within the organizational structure of that country. Thirteen regions called peripheries form the largest unit of government beneath the State. ...
in the Ionian Islands
Ionian Islands Periphery
Ionian Islands is one of the thirteen regions of Greece. It comprises the historical region of the Ionian Islands, except for the island of Kythera which belongs to Attica.-Administration:...
, Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Lefkada
Lefkada
Lefkada, or Leucas or Leucadia , is a Greek island in the Ionian Sea on the west coast of Greece, connected to the mainland by a long causeway and floating bridge. The principal town of the island and seat of the municipality is Lefkada . It is situated on the northern part of the island,...
, of which it is a municipal unit. It lies east of Lefkada, near the Greek mainland. It has an overwintering population of around 600 people, which is swelled substantially in the summer by tourists. The name Kalamos
Kalamos
Kalamos is an ancient Greek word meaning reed or reed pen. The basis for this meaning is the story of the Greek mythological figure Kalamos, son of Maiandros .-Greek mythology:...
means reed
Phragmites
Phragmites, the Common reed, is a large perennial grass found in wetlands throughout temperate and tropical regions of the world. Phragmites australis is sometimes regarded as the sole species of the genus Phragmites, though some botanists divide Phragmites australis into three or four species...
in Greek
Greek language
Greek is an independent branch of the Indo-European family of languages. Native to the southern Balkans, it has the longest documented history of any Indo-European language, spanning 34 centuries of written records. Its writing system has been the Greek alphabet for the majority of its history;...
. Its population was 543 at the 2001 census. The land area is 24.964 km², and its highest point is 754 m above sea level.
The main settlement on the island is the port town of Kálamos (pop. 483), on the east coast of the island. From here a regular ferry service connects the island to Mytikas on the mainland. Episkopi (pop. 60) is the only other inhabited village on the island. The village of Kefali, also known by its Venetian name Porto Leone was abandoned following the 1953 earthquake
Earthquake
An earthquake is the result of a sudden release of energy in the Earth's crust that creates seismic waves. The seismicity, seismism or seismic activity of an area refers to the frequency, type and size of earthquakes experienced over a period of time...
, which destroyed the water supply, but its church is still in use.
In the early 1990s, the water system was rebuilt and now every household has running water. As well, in recent years, all the foot paths that were once dirt have been upgraded to stone or pavement. Kalamos, once a remote island without electricity
Electricity
Electricity is a general term encompassing a variety of phenomena resulting from the presence and flow of electric charge. These include many easily recognizable phenomena, such as lightning, static electricity, and the flow of electrical current in an electrical wire...
or a proper water
Water
Water is a chemical substance with the chemical formula H2O. A water molecule contains one oxygen and two hydrogen atoms connected by covalent bonds. Water is a liquid at ambient conditions, but it often co-exists on Earth with its solid state, ice, and gaseous state . Water also exists in a...
system, now has all the conveniences of the mainland. Its nearest lyceum (middle school) and gymnasium (secondary school) is in the Aitoloakarnania prefecture but most of its students also attend in Nydri
Nydri
Nydri is a town located in the eastern part of the island of Lefkada, Greece. It is part of the municipal unit Ellomenos. It is linked with a road linking with Vasiliki and north to Lefkada and with the GR-42 with the mainland...
.
Population
| Year | Island Population |
|---|---|
| 1981 | 454 |
| 1991 | 465 |
| 2001 | 543 |