Karpathos

information about Karpathos island Greece

Karpathos located at the half distance between Rhodes and Crete. It is with 330 square kilometres the second largest island of the Dodecanese islands and has about 5,400 inhabitants .Karpathos is a mountainous island stretched to north south direction. Its highest mountain is Kali Limni 1,215 meters high. The capital town and main port of the island is Karpathos called by the locals Pigadia , Karpathos town located at the same place with the ancient town Potideo.Karpathos was already settled in the antiquity. The Dorians created on Karpathos four cities Potideion, Arkaseia, Vrykous and Nisyros, a reason that the island was called Tetrapolis.Later coming Karpathos became a close allied of Athens. Karpathos is ideal for Windsurfing because of its winds. The Meltemi wind is strengthened by the local topography and lets the eyes of each Windsurfer shine.The climate of Karpathos is typically Mediterranean. Its peculiarity is represented from the meltemi winds that they blow impetuous during the summer and hitting the western coast. The climate of Karpathos still introduces moreover an elevated humidity rate and the sparsity of rainy precipitations of winter. The small isle of Saria NW of Karpathos, once forming part of its major sister and now separated from it through a narrow, 200 m straight. Visitors come across a piece of rather mountainous land measuring a total 19 square kilometres in surface, the highest spot being at an altitude of 630 m from sea level.
This is where stood in ancient times town of Nissyros, quoted by Stravon, vestiges of which can still be seen immersed in the waters of the Tristomo straights, between Karpathos and Saria. Inscriptions further suggest the existence of a shrine to Porthmios Appolo.
Other antique remains on the island are reminders of such settlements as Argos - in the north - and Palatia - to the south - where excavations have unearthed quite a number of interesting findings. At Palatia there extends a beautiful, tree-shaded beach. Access to this islet is obtained by boat from the town of Karpathos. NW from Karpathos, there lies the islet of Astakida. Karpathos has ferry connections with Rhodes and Chalki. The easiest way is to fly from Athens to Karpathos. During the summer season there are more ferry connections with other islands of the Dodecanese and the Cyclades  like twice a week from Piraeus with Lane ferries to  Milos, Santorini, Crete and Rhodes.