Laganas
Encyclopedia
Laganas is a town and a former municipality on the island of Zakynthos
, Ionian Islands
, Greece
. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Zakynthos
, of which it is a municipal unit. Laganas is north of Keri
and south-southeast of Volimes
. The municipal unit of Laganás has a land area of 74.104 km². Its municipal seat was the town of Pantokrátor (pop. 899). Its largest towns are Mouzáki (1,352), Lithakiá (1,185), Pantokrátoras, Kalamáki (661), Laganás (543), and Kerí (487). It was created in the late-1990s under the Capodistrian Plan.
Laganas was ruled by the Venetians until the Napoleonic Wars
. It was in French
, Russia
n, Turkish
and British
hands, and formed part of the United States of the Ionian Islands
until 1864 when it was finally ceded to Greece
. After World War II
and the Greek Civil War
, its buildings were rebuilt. Laganas was hit by the Ionian Earthquake on August 1953 that leveled almost the entire village and the surrounding area. It took until the late 1950s and early 1960s for everything to be rebuilt and connected with asphalt. Laganas built a nearby airport that serves the entire island. A national park was established for the protection of turtles. More pavement was installed in the late 20th century. The island is now best known as a party haven for young Brits, boasting over 100 different drinking venues, all confined in a small area. Laganas has a lyceum (middle school), a gymnasium (secondary school), a few churches, and a square (plateia
).
The main attraction of Laganas is the migration of the loggerhead sea turtle
s (Caretta caretta), as well as partying for young Europeans. Each year during the months of June, July and August the turtles migrate to the Bay of Laganas to lay their eggs on the beach. This is a protected beach which is watched over by ecologists at all times.
Northeast of Laganas is the Zakynthos International Airport, "Dionysios Solomos" first opened in the mid 20th century. Other industries includes agriculture and services. The main crops are olives, fruits and vegetables.
Laganas is a modern place on an old style Greek island, with a high proportion of nightclubs and bars. Laganas is a popular Club 18-30
destination. The main strip in Laganas consists of bars, restaurants, and tourist shops. The island is popular with British, Dutch, and German tourists.
Zakynthos
Zakynthos , also Zante, the other form often used in English and in Italian , is a Greek island in the Ionian Sea. It is the third largest of the Ionian Islands. It is also a separate regional unit of the Ionian Islands region, and the only municipality of the regional unit. It covers an area of ...
, 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 Zakynthos
Zakynthos
Zakynthos , also Zante, the other form often used in English and in Italian , is a Greek island in the Ionian Sea. It is the third largest of the Ionian Islands. It is also a separate regional unit of the Ionian Islands region, and the only municipality of the regional unit. It covers an area of ...
, of which it is a municipal unit. Laganas is north of Keri
Keri, Greece
Keri is a village in the southern part of the island of Zakynthos. Its 2001 population was 487 for the village and 680 for the municipal district...
and south-southeast of Volimes
Volimes
Volimes, is a village in the northwestern part of the island of Zakynthos. It was the seat of the municipality of Elatia. Its 2001 population was 939 for the district, and 627 for the village.-Settlements:*Volimes, pop. 627*Agios Nikolaos, pop. 42...
. The municipal unit of Laganás has a land area of 74.104 km². Its municipal seat was the town of Pantokrátor (pop. 899). Its largest towns are Mouzáki (1,352), Lithakiá (1,185), Pantokrátoras, Kalamáki (661), Laganás (543), and Kerí (487). It was created in the late-1990s under the Capodistrian Plan.
History
Its origin of the name comes from the word lagini meaning jug or pot in English, named for the rock formations in the area of Lithakia and Kalamaki the waves hit the coastline.Laganas was ruled by the Venetians until the Napoleonic Wars
Napoleonic Wars
The Napoleonic Wars were a series of wars declared against Napoleon's French Empire by opposing coalitions that ran from 1803 to 1815. As a continuation of the wars sparked by the French Revolution of 1789, they revolutionised European armies and played out on an unprecedented scale, mainly due to...
. It was in French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
n, Turkish
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
and British
British Empire
The British Empire comprised the dominions, colonies, protectorates, mandates and other territories ruled or administered by the United Kingdom. It originated with the overseas colonies and trading posts established by England in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. At its height, it was the...
hands, and formed part of the United States of the Ionian Islands
United States of the Ionian Islands
The United States of the Ionian Islands was a state and amical protectorate of the United Kingdom between 1815 and 1864. It was the successor state of the Septinsular Republic...
until 1864 when it was finally ceded to Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
. After World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
and the Greek Civil War
Greek Civil War
The Greek Civil War was fought from 1946 to 1949 between the Greek governmental army, backed by the United Kingdom and United States, and the Democratic Army of Greece , the military branch of the Greek Communist Party , backed by Bulgaria, Yugoslavia and Albania...
, its buildings were rebuilt. Laganas was hit by the Ionian Earthquake on August 1953 that leveled almost the entire village and the surrounding area. It took until the late 1950s and early 1960s for everything to be rebuilt and connected with asphalt. Laganas built a nearby airport that serves the entire island. A national park was established for the protection of turtles. More pavement was installed in the late 20th century. The island is now best known as a party haven for young Brits, boasting over 100 different drinking venues, all confined in a small area. Laganas has a lyceum (middle school), a gymnasium (secondary school), a few churches, and a square (plateia
Plateia
Plateia or platia is the Greek word for town square. Most Greek and Cypriot cities have several town squares which are a point of reference in travelling and guiding...
).
Geography
The area is surrounded by the plain of Zakynthos. The plain dominates the eastern portion and the mountains in the western portion. The island has little forest. Laganas Beach is located at southern half of the island and is roughly five kilometers in length.Transportation
Laganas is linked with the Greek National Road 35 (Zakynthos - Laganas) and is its southernmost terminus.Population
| Year | Population village | Population municipal district | Population municipality |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 233 | - | 4,303 |
| 2001 | 543 | 1,442 | 5,894 |
Tourist resort
Loggerhead sea turtle
The loggerhead sea turtle , or loggerhead, is an oceanic turtle distributed throughout the world. It is a marine reptile, belonging to the family Cheloniidae. The average loggerhead measures around long when fully grown, although larger specimens of up to have been discovered...
s (Caretta caretta), as well as partying for young Europeans. Each year during the months of June, July and August the turtles migrate to the Bay of Laganas to lay their eggs on the beach. This is a protected beach which is watched over by ecologists at all times.
Northeast of Laganas is the Zakynthos International Airport, "Dionysios Solomos" first opened in the mid 20th century. Other industries includes agriculture and services. The main crops are olives, fruits and vegetables.
Laganas is a modern place on an old style Greek island, with a high proportion of nightclubs and bars. Laganas is a popular Club 18-30
Club 18-30
Club 18-30 is a holiday company owned by Thomas Cook that offers cut-price holidays for young men and women who seek a more lively holiday than those offered by many large package holiday providers. It takes around 110,000 guests each year with turnover of around £50m a year...
destination. The main strip in Laganas consists of bars, restaurants, and tourist shops. The island is popular with British, Dutch, and German tourists.
Subdivisions
The municipal unit Laganas is subdivided into the following communities (constituent villages in brackets):- AgalasAgalasAgalas is a mountain settlement on Zakynthos island, Greece. It is located on the west coast of Zakynthos and is famous for the Damianou Cave.-External links:*...
(Agalas, Ai Giannis, Ampelos, Stimies) - Kalamaki (Kalamaki, Margaraiika, Pefkakia)
- KeriKeri, GreeceKeri is a village in the southern part of the island of Zakynthos. Its 2001 population was 487 for the village and 680 for the municipal district...
(Keri, Apelati, Limni Keriou, Marathias) - LithakiaLithakiaLithakia is a village in the southern part of the island of Zakynthos. Its 2001 population was 1,171.-Population:-Location and transportation:...
- Mouzaki
- Pantokratoras (Pantokratoras, Laganas)
External links
| North: Artemisia Artemisia, Zakynthos Artemisia is a former municipality on the island of Zakynthos, Ionian Islands, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Zakynthos, of which it is a municipal unit. It is on the central west coast of the island. It has a land area of 104.890 km² and a 2001... | |||
| West: Ionian Sea Ionian Sea The Ionian Sea , is an arm of the Mediterranean Sea, south of the Adriatic Sea. It is bounded by southern Italy including Calabria, Sicily and the Salento peninsula to the west, southern Albania to the north, and a large number of Greek islands, including Corfu, Zante, Kephalonia, Ithaka, and... | Laganas | East: Zakynthos (city) Zakynthos (city) Zakynthos is a city and a former municipality on the island of Zakynthos, Ionian Islands, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Zakynthos, of which it is a municipal unit. It is the capital of the island of Zakynthos. Apart from the official name Zakynthos,... and the Ionian Sea Ionian Sea The Ionian Sea , is an arm of the Mediterranean Sea, south of the Adriatic Sea. It is bounded by southern Italy including Calabria, Sicily and the Salento peninsula to the west, southern Albania to the north, and a large number of Greek islands, including Corfu, Zante, Kephalonia, Ithaka, and... | |
| South: Laganas Gulf and the Ionian Sea Ionian Sea The Ionian Sea , is an arm of the Mediterranean Sea, south of the Adriatic Sea. It is bounded by southern Italy including Calabria, Sicily and the Salento peninsula to the west, southern Albania to the north, and a large number of Greek islands, including Corfu, Zante, Kephalonia, Ithaka, and... |