Kefalonia Κεφαλονιά
Panoramic view of Assos
Geography
Coordinates:	38°15′N 20°30′E / 38.25, 20.5
Island Chain:	Ionian Islands
Area:[4]	906.5 km² (350 sq.mi.)
Highest Mountain:	Megas Soros (1,627 m (5,338 ft))
Government
Greece
Periphery:	Ionian Islands
Prefecture:	Kefalonia and Ithaka
Capital:	Argostoli
Statistics
Population:	36,404 (as of 2001)
Density:	40 /km² (104 /sq.mi.)
Postal Code:	280 xx
Area Code:	267x0
License Code:	KE
Website
www.kefalonia.gr

The island of Kefalonia, also known as Cephallenia, Cephallonia, Kefallinia, or Kefallonia (Ancient Greek: Κεφαλληνία; Modern Greek: Κεφαλλονιά or Κεφαλονιά; Italian: Cefalonia), is the largest of the Ionian Islands in western Greece, with an area of 350 sq. miles. It is also the larger of the two islands forming the Kefalonia and Ithaka Prefecture, and contains eight of the prefecture's nine municipalities or communities. (Ithaca is on a separate island.) Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (2560 × 1920 pixel, file size: 550 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... A square metre (US spelling: square meter) is by definition the area enclosed by a square with sides each 1 metre long. ... A square mile is an English unit of area equal to that of a square with sides each 1 statute mile (≈1,609 m) in length. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Greece. ... The Ionian Islands (Modern Greek: Ιόνια νησιά, Ionia nisia; Ancient Greek: , Ionioi NÄ“soi) are a group of islands in Greece. ... Kefalonia and Ithaka (Greek: ) is a nomos (prefecture) in Greece, containing the Ionian islands of Kefalonia and Ithaka. ... Argostoli (Greek: Modern: Αργοστόλι, Ancient/Katharevousa: -ον, -on) has been the capital and administrative centre of Kefalonia, Greece, since 1757, following a population shift down from the old capital of Agios Georgios (also known as Kastro) to take advantage of the trading opportunities provided by the sheltered bay upon which Argostoli sits. ... The Ionian Islands (Modern Greek: Ιόνια νησιά, Ionia nisia; Ancient Greek: , Ionioi NÄ“soi) are a group of islands in Greece. ... Kefalonia and Ithaka (Greek: ) is a nomos (prefecture) in Greece, containing the Ionian islands of Kefalonia and Ithaka. ... Communities and municipalities of Greece are one of several levels of government within the organizational structure of that country. ... For other places or objects named Ithaca, see Ithaca (disambiguation). ...

The island is named after the mythological figure Cephalus (Ciphalis), although some hold its name literally means "island with a head", referring to the island's shape; the name "Ciphalis" is derived from the Greek word for "head". Cephalus and Aurora, by Nicolas Poussin (c. ...

Geography

Argostoli and Lixouri from the mountains

The capital of the Kefalonia prefecture is Argostoli. The island's population is nearly 45,000; it previously was home to the fastest growing population in Greece, with a growth rate of 35% to 40% during the 1990s. It was officially 36,404 at the census of 2001. The size of the island is ca. 800 km² (300 mi²), and the present population density is 55 people per km² (140/mi²), with Argostoli home to one-third of the island's habitants. Lixouri is the second major settlement, and the two towns together account for almost two-thirds of the prefecture's population. Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (2576 × 1932 pixel, file size: 806 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) argostoli I, the creator of this work, hereby release it into the public domain. ... Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (2576 × 1932 pixel, file size: 806 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) argostoli I, the creator of this work, hereby release it into the public domain. ... Argostoli (Greek: Modern: Αργοστόλι, Ancient/Katharevousa: -ον, -on) has been the capital and administrative centre of Kefalonia, Greece, since 1757, following a population shift down from the old capital of Agios Georgios (also known as Kastro) to take advantage of the trading opportunities provided by the sheltered bay upon which Argostoli sits. ... Cephalonia and Ithaca, elevation map Paliki (Παλική PalikÄ“) is a peninsula off Kefalonia, one of the Ionian islands of western Greece, at , , belonging to the municipality of Lixouri (YPES code 2707). ...

Kefalonia is located in the heart of an earthquake zone, and dozens of minor or unrecorded tremors occur each year. In 1953, a massive earthquake almost destroyed settlement on the island, leaving only Fiscardo in the north untouched. This article is about the natural seismic phenomenon. ...

Most of the Kefalonia population have surnames ending in "-atos". Almost every community in Kefalonia has a name ending in "-ata", such as Lourdata, Favata, Delaportata, etc.

In the ancient period, before it was named Kefalonia, the island was known to have a population of only 100 to 300; at the ancient founding of Kefalonia, the population trebled to around 500 - 1,000 people. The population grew steadily, until it reached 10,000 in the mid-20th century, with the total topping 20,000 by the 1970s.

Mountains

Myrtos Bay

Mt. Ainos from sea level

Kefalonia's tallest mountain is Mount Ainos, with an elevation of 1628m (almost the same elevation as Denver, Colorado in North America); to the west-northwest are the Paliki mountains, where Lixouri is sited, with other mountains taking in Gerania and Agia Dynati. Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (2560 × 1920 pixel, file size: 779 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (2560 × 1920 pixel, file size: 779 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (3072 × 2304 pixel, file size: 772 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) I, the creator of this work, hereby release it into the public domain. ... Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (3072 × 2304 pixel, file size: 772 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) I, the creator of this work, hereby release it into the public domain. ... Mount Aenos or Ainos (Όρος Αίνος Ancient and Modern Greek) is the tallest mountain in Cephallonia, the elevation at the top of the point stands at 1628 m (around 5,350 ft. ... Nickname: Location of Denver in Colorado Location of Colorado in the United States Coordinates: , Country State Founded [1] November 22, 1858 Incorporated November 7, 1861 Government  - Type Strong Mayor/Weak Council  - Mayor John Hickenlooper (D) Area [1]  - City & County  154. ... North America North America is a continent[1] in the Earths northern hemisphere and (chiefly) western hemisphere. ... Cephalonia and Ithaca, elevation map Paliki (Παλική PalikÄ“) is a peninsula off Kefalonia, one of the Ionian islands of western Greece, at , . It is also the ancient name of Lixouri, the main city on the peninsula (YPES code 2707). ... Cephalonia and Ithaca, elevation map Paliki (Παλική PalikÄ“) is a peninsula off Kefalonia, one of the Ionian islands of western Greece, at , , belonging to the municipality of Lixouri (YPES code 2707). ... Mount Geraneia or Gerania (Greek: Γεράνεια), rarely Yerania is a mountain range that spans about 5 km from north to south (about 5 km N of Agioi Theodoroi to the Gulf of Corinth) and from east to west from 15 to 20 km. ... The Greek mountain Agia Dynati (Saint Dynati) is the second highest mountain of Kefalonia (1131 m. ...

Forestry

Cypress trees at the roadside

Much of Kefalonia is inaccessible due to the mountains

Forestry is rare on the island; however its timber output is one of the highest in the Ionian islands, although lower than that of Elia in the Peloponnese. Forest fires were common during the 1990s and the early 2000s. These fires still pose as a major threat to the population of Kefalonia. Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (2304 × 1728 pixel, file size: 1. ... Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (2304 × 1728 pixel, file size: 1. ... Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (3072 × 2304 pixel, file size: 1. ... Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (3072 × 2304 pixel, file size: 1. ...

Agriculture

The primary agricultural occupations of Kefalonia are animal breeding and olive growing, with the remainder largely composed of grain and vegetables. Most vegetable production takes place on the plains, which cover less than 15% of the island; the majority of the island is rugged and mountainous, suitable only for goats. Less than a quarter of the island's land is arable.

The majority of Kefalonians lived in rural areas before the 1970s, while today the urban population accounts for two-thirds of the prefecture, and the other third remain in rural towns and villages close to farmland.

Harbours and ports

There are five harbours and ports in the prefecture: four main harbours on the island, Same or Sami, and a major port with links to Patras and Ithaca. Poros, in the south, has ferry routes to Kyllini; Argostoli, in the west, is the largest port, for local boats and ferries to Zante and regularly to Lixouri; Vasiliki, in the north, has links to Lefkas and Ithaca. There is room for about 100 small boats in Argostoli, where the port stretches 1 kilometre around the bay, while Lixouri is situated 4 km across the bay from Argostoli, on the Lixouri peninsula. There is a road connection to the rest of the island, but driving from Lixouri to Argostoli involves a 30 km detour. Same is a location in Ancient Greece, which may be the same as modern Samos. ... Patras (Demotic Greek: Πάτρα, Pátra, Classical Greek: Πάτραι, Pátrai, Latin: , Ottoman Turkish: Ballıbadra) is the third-largest city of Greece and the capital of the prefecture of Achaea, located in northern Peloponnese, 215 kilometers to the west of Athens. ... For other places or objects named Ithaca, see Ithaca (disambiguation). ... There are several places on the Peloponnesus peninsula in Greece named Kyllíni (classically transliterated as Cyllene or Kyllênê): Mount Kyllini (Cyllene), the mythological birthplace of Hermes (also called Mount Ziria). ... Zakýnthos (Ζάκυνθος, also known as Zante), the third largest of the Ionian Islands, covers an area of 410 square kilometers and its coastline is roughly 123 kilometers in length. ... Lefkada, or Lefkas (Greek: Modern: Λευκάδα, Ancient/Katharevousa: -as) is an Greek island in the Ionian Sea, connected to the mainland by a long causeway and floating bridge. ...

Bays

A secluded bay in Pesádha

Katelios Bay

Bays: Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (2576 × 1932 pixel, file size: 1. ... Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (2576 × 1932 pixel, file size: 1. ... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 800 × 408 pixelsFull resolution (860 × 439 pixel, file size: 31 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) I, the copyright holder of this work, hereby release it into the public domain. ... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 800 × 408 pixelsFull resolution (860 × 439 pixel, file size: 31 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) I, the copyright holder of this work, hereby release it into the public domain. ...

• Mounda Bay, near Kateleios
• Katelios
• Myrtos Beach

Kateleios a. ... Kateleios (Greek: Κατελειός), is a community in the southeastern part of the island of Kefallinia, located next to the Ionian Sea offering a view of Zante to the south. ... Myrtos beach is situated in the region of Pylaros, in the north-west of Kefalonia. ...

Capes

• Cape Agios Georgios (lat: 38.1667/38°10' N, long: 20.43333/20°26' E)

Urban Landscape

Towns

Tourists and locals dining in the square of Argostoli

Here are the island's main urban settlements in order of size (2001 census): Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (2304 × 1728 pixel, file size: 805 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) I, the creator of this work, hereby release it into the public domain. ... Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (2304 × 1728 pixel, file size: 805 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) I, the creator of this work, hereby release it into the public domain. ...

• Argostoli: 9,037
• Lixouri: 3,610
• Sámi: 1,223
• Póros: 971
• Valsamata: 942
• Dilinata: 739
• Svoronata: 674
• Vlachata: 578
• Digaleton: 545
• Skála: 530
• Makryotika: 516
• Peratata: 505

Argostoli, the largest town on the island, is very popular with locals and tourists, with the main strip coming alive as night falls. A number of local items can be found here, and lively coffee bars and cafes are often open into the early hours of the morning. Argostoli (Greek: Modern: Αργοστόλι, Ancient/Katharevousa: -ον, -on) has been the capital and administrative centre of Kefalonia, Greece, since 1757, following a population shift down from the old capital of Agios Georgios (also known as Kastro) to take advantage of the trading opportunities provided by the sheltered bay upon which Argostoli sits. ... Cephalonia and Ithaca, elevation map Paliki (Παλική PalikÄ“) is a peninsula off Kefalonia, one of the Ionian islands of western Greece, at , , belonging to the municipality of Lixouri (YPES code 2707). ... Sami (Σάμη) is a municipality in Kefalonia, Greece. ... Poros (Greek: Πόρος), older form -o and -on is a picturesque town located located in the southeastern portion of the island of Kefalonia and part of the municipality of Elaios-Pronoi. ... Valsamata (Greek: Βαλσαμάτα), also Valsamada is a village located 17 km feast of Argostoli and about 38 km W of Poros in the community of Omala on the island of Kefalonia. ... Dilinata (Greek: Διλινάτα) is a small settlement located 9 km northeast of Argostoli, NW of Sami and north of the Argostoli-Sami Road (GR-50) and E of Davgata. ... Vlachata or Vlahata (Greek: Βλαχάτα from Vlach- + -άτα -ata), rarely Vlakhata is a village located in the eastern part of the municipality of Leivathos in the southern part of the island of Kefalonia. ... Skala is a picturesque village located in the municipality of Eleios-Pronnoi, some 39kms south from the islands main town of Argostoli and 14kms SE of Poros, in the south of Kefalonia, one of the Ionian Islands of Greece. ... Makriotika is one of the three municipal communities of the Pilaros region located on the slopes of Mount Agia Dinati. ... Peratata (Greek: Περατάτα) is a village located 8 km ESE of Argostoli and about 32 km W of Poros in the municipality of Livathos on the island of Kefalonia. ...

Monasteries

Across the broader island two large monasteries are to be found: the first is that of Haghia Panagia, in Markopoulo to the southeast, and the other lies on the road between Argostoli and Michata, on a small plain surrounded by mountains. This second has an avenue of about 200 trees lined from NW to SE with a circle in the middle, and is the monastery of Agios Gerasimos, patron saint of the island.

Archaeology

In April, 2007, archaeologists discovered "a large Roman-era tomb containing gold jewelry, pottery and bronze offerings." ^[1] The tomb found is a house-shaped structure with a stone door that still "works perfectly -- turning on stone pivots." ^[2], and also found was a theater with rows of seats. The structures date to Roman times -- between the second century B.C. and the fourth century A.D.

History

Legend

The island received its name from the mythical hero Cephalus, who arrived at the island as a refugee from Athens, displacing the island's initial inhabitants, who were known as Taphians (Teloboes or Taphioi). Cephalus and Aurora, by Nicolas Poussin (c. ... This article is about the capital of Greece. ... In Homeric Greece the islands of Taphos lay in the Ionian Sea off the coast of Acarnania in northwestern Greece, home of sea-going and piratical inhabitants, the Taphians. ...

Odysseus' home?

Homer offers 26 descriptions of specific places on Odysseus' home island, but these do not match the modern island of Ithaca. For instance, the modern Ithaca faces east, and is mountainous -- it does not "lie low". Thus it has been suggested that Homer's Ithaca is not the same place as the modern island of Ithaca. Homer Where was Homers Ithaca? There have been many suggestions as to where, exactly, the Ithaca of the Iliad and Odyssey of Homer was geographically located: as many, perhaps, as the theories which once fought among themselves over whether Troy ever really existed, and if so where it was. ... For other places or objects named Ithaca, see Ithaca (disambiguation). ...

It has been suggested that Kefalonia and Ithaca once may have been joined, because Homer describes Ithaca as being both much larger than it now is, and on the final edge of Greece "facing the western sunset". Geographical data also suggests that the islands once may have been connected.

Robert Bittlestone, in his book Odysseus Unbound, has suggested that Paliki, now a peninsula of Kefalonia, was a separate island during the late Bronze Age, and it may be this that Homer was referring to when he described Ithaca. Bittlestone also suggests that migrants from Paliki may have carried the Odyssey tale with them as they migrated during the Greek Dark Ages, first to the mainland and finally to the eastern Aegean, where tradition places Homer's birthplace: this would account for the epic's detailed knowledge of Paliki. A project starting in the Summer of 2007, and lasting three years, will examine the geological makeup of Paliki. Using high tech equipment normally used for oil exploration, a Dutch based company sponsored by the Greek Geological Society, will attempt to determine if Paliki was once a separate island, possibly Ithaca.^[3] In the Southwest of the island, in the area of Leivatho, an ongoing archaeological field survey by the Irish Institute at Athens has discovered dozens of sites, with dates ranging from the Palaeolithic to the Venetian period. Paliki, Kefalonia (Cephalonia) & Ithaki (the traditional Ithaca) : click map to show scale -- Homer said Ithaca was low-lying According to Robert Bittlestones Odysseus Unbound (2005), written with the assistance of Professor James Diggle of Cambridge University and Professor John Underhill of the University of Edinburgh, Paliki, a peninsula of... Cephalonia and Ithaca, elevation map Paliki (Παλική PalikÄ“) is a peninsula off Kefalonia, one of the Ionian islands of western Greece, at , . It is also the ancient name of Lixouri, the main city on the peninsula (YPES code 2707). ... The Greek Dark Ages (ca. ... For other uses, see Homer (disambiguation). ... Archaeological field survey is the methodological process by which archaeologists (often landscape archaeologists) collect information about the location, distribution and organisation of past human cultures across a large area (e. ... The IIHSA logo combines images from Classical Greece and prehistoric Ireland The Irish Institute of Hellenic Studies (IIHSA) (Irish: Institiúid Éireannach san Ataen don Léann Heilléanach; Greek: Ιρλανδικό Ινστιτούτο Ελληνικών Σπουδών στην Αθήνα) is one of the 17 foreign archaeological institutes operating in Athens, Greece. ... The Paleolithic or Palaeolithic – lit. ... Venetian could mean Of Venice/Venetia. ...

Venetian rule

During the middle ages there existed the County palatine of Cephalonia and Zakynthos under the Kingdom of Naples and later the Venetian Republic. The County palatine of Cephalonia and Zakynthos existed from 1185 until 1479, as part of the Kingdom of Sicily. ...

In the 16th to 18th centuries, it was one of the largest exporters of currants in the world, providing with Zakynthos and owned a large shipping fleet, even commissioning ships from the Danzig shipyard. The towns and villages mostly were built high on hilltops, to prevent attacks from raiding parties of pirates that sailed the Ionian Sea during the 1820s. “Zante” redirects here. ...

Union with Greece

In 1864, Kefalonia, together with all the other Ionian Islands, became a full member of the Greek state.

World War II

Further information: Axis occupation of Greece during World War II

In World War II, the island was occupied by Axis powers. Until late 1943, the occupying force was predominantly Italian -- the Acqui division plus Navy personnel totalled 12,000 men -- but about 2,000 troops from Nazi Germany also were present. The island was largely spared the fighting, until the armistice with Italy concluded by the Allies in September 1943. Confusion followed on the island, as the Italians were hoping to return home, but German forces did not want the Italians' munitions to be used eventually against them; Italian forces were hesitant to turn over weapons for the same reason. As German reinforcements headed to the island the Italians dug in and, eventually, after a referendum among the soldiers as to surrender or battle, they fought against the new German invasion. The fighting came to a head at the siege of Argostoli, where the Italians held out. Ultimately the German forces prevailed, taking full control of the island, and six thousand of the nine thousand surviving Italian soldiers were executed as a reprisal by German forces.^{[citation needed]} While the war ended in central Europe in 1945, Kefalonia remained in a state of conflict due to the Greek Civil War. Peace returned to Greece and the island in 1949. German soldiers raising the Reich War Flag over the Acropolis. ... Combatants Allied powers: China France Great Britain Soviet Union United States and others Axis powers: Germany Italy Japan and others Commanders Chiang Kai-shek Charles de Gaulle Winston Churchill Joseph Stalin Franklin Roosevelt Adolf Hitler Benito Mussolini Hideki Tōjō Casualties Military dead: 17,000,000 Civilian dead: 33,000... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Nazi Germany, or the Third Reich, commonly refers to Germany in the years 1933–1945, when it was under the firm control of the totalitarian and fascist ideology of the Nazi Party, with the Führer Adolf Hitler as dictator. ... The Armistice with Italy is an armistice that occurred on September 8, 1943, during World War II. It was signed by Italy and the Allied armed forces, who were occupying the southern half of the country at the time. ... Look up ally in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Combatants Hellenic Army, Royalist forces, Republicans United Kingdom Communist Party of Greece (ELAS, DSE) Commanders Alexander Papagos, Thrasyvoulos Tsakalotos, James Van Fleet Markos Vafiadis Strength 150,000 men 50,000 men and women Casualties 15,000 killed 32,000+ killed or captured The Greek Civil War (Ελληνικός εμφύλιος πόλεμος [ellinikos emfilios polemos]) was...

The Great Earthquake of 1953

Kefalonia is just to the east of a major tectonic fault, where the European plate meets the Aegean plate at a slip boundary. This is similar to the more famous San Andreas Fault. There are regular earthquakes along this fault. View of the San Andreas Fault on the Carrizo Plain in central California, 35°07N, 119°39W The San Andreas Fault is a geological fault that runs a length of roughly 800 miles (1300 kilometres) through western and southern California in the United States. ...

A series of four earthquakes hit the island in August 1953, and caused major destruction, with virtually every house on the island destroyed. The third and most destructive of the, quakes took place on August 12, 1953 at 09:24 UTC (11:24 local time), with a magnitude of 7.3 on the Richter scale. Its epicentre was directly below the southern tip of the Kefalonia, and caused the entire island to be raised 60cm higher, where it remains, with evidence in water marks on rocks around the coastline. is the 224th day of the year (225th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1953 (MCMLIII) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Richter magnitude test scale (or more correctly local magnitude ML scale) assigns a single number to quantify the size of an earthquake. ... The epicenter or epicentre (ancient Greek: επίκεντρον) is the point on the Earths surface that is directly above or below the center of a localized explosive event or point of seismic energy release. ...

This 1953 disaster caused huge destruction, with only regions in the north escaping the heaviest tremors and houses there remaining intact. Damage was estimated to run into tens of millions of dollars, equivalent to billions of drachmas, but the real damage to the economy occurred when residents left the island. An estimated 100,000 of the population of 125,000 left the island soon after, seeking a new life elsewhere. Drachma, pl. ...

Recent History

The forest fire of the 1990s caused damage to the island's forests and bushes, especially a small scar north of Troianata, and a large area of damage extending from Kateleios north to west of Tzanata, ruining about 30 square kilometres of forest and bushes and resulting in the loss of some properties. The forest fire scar was seen for some years.

In mid-November 2003, an earthquake measuring 5.3 on the Richter scale caused minor damage to business, residential property, and other buildings within the Argostoli periphery. Damages were in the $1,000,000 range (300,000,000 drachmas). The Richter magnitude test scale (or more correctly local magnitude ML scale) assigns a single number to quantify the size of an earthquake. ... Drachma, pl. ...

On the morning of Tuesday September 20, 2005, an early-morning earthquake shook the south-western part of the island, especially near Lixouri and its villages. The earthquake measured 4.9 on the Richter scale, and its epicentre was located off the island at sea. Service vehicles took care of the area, and no damage was reported. 2005 : January - February - March - April - May - June - July - August - September - October - November - December- → Deaths in September September 28 : Constance Baker Motley September 25 : M. Scott Peck September 25 : Don Adams September 20 : Simon Wiesenthal September 14 : Robert Wise September 10 : Hermann Bondi September 8 : Donald Horne September 7 : Moussa Arafat...

Between January 24 and 26 of 2006, a major snowstorm blanketed the entire island causing extensive blackouts. January 2006 : ← - January - February - March - April - May - June - July - August - September - October - November - December- → Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad accuses European nations of trying to complete the Holocaust by creating a Jewish camp Israel in the Middle East. ...

The island was recently yet again struck by another forest fire in the south of the island, beginning on Wednesday July 18, 2007 during an unusual heatwave, and spreading slowly. Firefighters along with helicopters and planes battled the blaze for some days and the spectacle frightened residents on that area of the island. The fire later disintegrated, having consumed thousands of hectares of forests and bushes. It transformed a natural beauty into an undemanding scenery. is the 199th day of the year (200th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ...

Culture

Films

Kefalonia's profile was greatly raised in the late 1990s thanks to the novel Captain Corelli's Mandolin, by English author Louis de Bernières. The novel is believed to be based on events that occurred in the picturesque village of Farsa, just outside of Argostoli. The love story comprising the theme of the book is set after the Acqui Division massacre,[1] during the Second World War, and the film adaptation was released in 2001. Captain Corellis Mandolin, a 1993 novel written by Louis de Bernières, is a story about an Italian captain (Antonio Corelli) and the daughter (Pelagia) of the local physician (Dr. Iannis) on the island of Kefalonia set against the background of the Italian/German occupation of the island during... Louis de Bernières (born London, UK on December 8, 1954) is a British novelist. ... Farsa (Greek: Φάρσα) is a small settlement in the island of Kefalonia and is also in the Potamana region in Greece. ...

During filming there was lively debate between the production team, local authorities as well as groups of citizens, as to the complex historical details of the island's antifascist resistance. As a result political references were omitted from the film, and the romantic core of the book was preserved, without entering complex debates around the island's history. Anti-fascism is the opposition to fascist ideology, organization, or government, on all levels. ...

Tourism

Argostoli's cosmopolitain nightlife

A large number of tourists visit Kefalonia during the peak season but, as one of the largest islands in Greece, it is well-equipped to handle visitors. Most tourists stay in or around Lassi, a serene resort a few kilometres from Argostoli, and their numbers have increased since the best-seller, Captain Corelli's Mandolin, was made a film (2001) shot on the island itself. Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (3072 × 2304 pixel, file size: 1. ... Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (3072 × 2304 pixel, file size: 1. ... Captain Corellis Mandolin, a 1993 novel written by Louis de Bernières, is a story about an Italian captain (Antonio Corelli) and the daughter (Pelagia) of the local physician (Dr. Iannis) on the island of Kefalonia set against the background of the Italian/German occupation of the island during...

Recreation

The island is covered by dense vegetation and offers a great range of natural beauty, including beaches -- many of them inaccessible from land -- and spectacular caves. Mirtos, the most famous of these beaches, is a major tourist attraction, and has been ranked fifth worldwide for its beauty. Fishing is very common throughout the waters within and around the island, and the harbours of Argostoli and Lixouri are the main fishing centres. Overfishing can be a problem in Kefalonia, and in the Ionian area generally. × The Traffic Light colour convention, showing the concept of Harvest Control Rule (HCR), specifying when a rebuilding plan is mandatory in terms of precautionary and limit reference points for spawning biomass and fishing mortality rate. ...

Notable Persons

• Spyridon Marinatos (1901-1974) archaeologist
• Nikolaos Xydias Typaldos (1826-1909) painter
• Juan de Fuca (Ioannis Phokas), a Greek explorer employed by Spain who discovered the entrance to the Puget Sound and the Inland Passage between Vancouver Island and the Canadian mainland. The Strait of Juan Fuca is named after him.
• Panagis Benetatos, Director, Professional Training And Bilateral Assistance Dept. Economic Chamber of Macedonia, Counsel to the Minister of Economy
• Spyros Marinatos (November 4, 1901 in Lixouri - October 1, 1974 in Santorini)
• Constantine Phaulkon, Greek adventurer
• Nikolaos Platon, Greek archaeologist, excavated the Minoan Palastes on the island of Crete
• Evangelos Klonis, a numerously decorated World War II veteran
• Nikos Kavadias, a famous Greek poet
• Ilias Miniatis: priest-teacher, who helped the Greeks, during the Turk Occupation.
• Antonis Ambatielos: an important member of KKE and the greatest Greek syndicalist of 20th century.
• Marinos Harbouris: engineer, who transported a giant rock from Finland to Saint Petersburg for the construction of the statue of Peter the Great. His action was considered as the greatest mechanic achievement of these ages. http://www.amazon.com/dp/074755708X/
• Marinos Antypas: one of the first Greek socialists and the instigator of the agrarian revolution of Kileler.
• Andreas Laskaratos: a famous Greek satiric poet.
• Epameinondas Liokos, a Greek artist
• Nikolaos Liokis, a Greek artist
• Gerasimos Markoras, a Greek poet.
• Andreas Gerasimos Michalitsianos: A Greek-American NASA astronomer.
• Mikelis Avlihos: Greek satiric poet.
• Gerasimos D. Danilatos: Physicist and inventor of ESEM
• George Molfetas: Greek satiric poet.
• Panait Istrati (Panagis Valsamis): Romanian poet.
• Dionysis Zakythinos: the greatest Greek byzantinologist.
• Panagiotis Kavadias: the "father" of the Greek archaeology, who found the theatre of Epidaurus.solitary
• Spiros Vikatos: a famous Greek painter.
• Nikos Xidias: Greek painter.
• Gerasimos Steris: an international known Greek painter.
• Thanasis Fokas: a great physist.
• Gerasimos Sklavos: the greatet Greek sculptor,(with Giannoulis Halepas), of the 20th century.
• Annet Artani - (Annette Stamatelatos) - Greek-American singer/songwriter
• Maria Georgo: Greek-American Life Coach and Management Consultant
• Dimitrios Grigoratos: Greek Master Carpenter
• Antonis Tritsis: Former Mayor of Athens considered one of the most dynamic and respect politicians in Greece subsequent to the fall of the military junta.
• Keti Garbi: Popular Greek music singer and performer.
• John Varvatos: Designer
• NAIKOS painter

Spyridon Nikolaou Marinatos (November 4, 1901 - October 1, 1974) was one of the premier Greek archaeologists of the 20th century, whose most notable discovery was the site of the Minoan port city on the island of Thera destroyed and preserved by the massive volcanic eruption, ca 1650-1600 BCE, spawning... Year 1901 (MCMI) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Monday [1] of the 13-day-slower Julian calendar). ... Year 1974 (MCMLXXIV) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar) of the 1974 Gregorian calendar. ... Nikolaos Xydias Typaldos (1826-1909) was a Greek painter. ... The oldest surviving photograph, Nicéphore Niépce, circa 1826 1826 (MDCCCXXVI) was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Tuesday of the 12-day-slower Julian calendar). ... Year 1909 (MCMIX) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Thursday of the 13-day-slower Julian calendar). ... Juan de Fuca (born 1536 as Ioannis Phokas in Kefalonia/Greece; † 1602 in Zákynthos/Greece, often reported as Apostolos Valerianos), was a Greek captain employed by Spain to sail northward from Mexico and look for a northern passage from the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic Ocean. ... is the 308th day of the year (309th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1901 (MCMI) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Monday [1] of the 13-day-slower Julian calendar). ... is the 274th day of the year (275th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1974 (MCMLXXIV) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar) of the 1974 Gregorian calendar. ... Santorini (Greek Σαντορίνη, IPA: ) is a small, circular archipelago of volcanic islands located in southern Aegean Sea, about 200 km south-east from Greeces mainland. ... Constantine Phaulkon (born Κωνσταντίνος Γεράκης or Constantinos Gerakis; Gerakis is the Greek word for Phaulkon) (1647 - June 5, 1688) was a Greek adventurer, who became first counsellor to King Narai of Ayutthaya. ... Nikolaos Platon (Greek , Anglicised Nicolas Platon; January 8, 1909) – March 28, 1992) was a renowned Greek archaeologist. ... Nikos Kavadias (1910-1975) was a Greek poet and writer, very popular in his native country, who, travelling the world as a sailor, wrote and idealised life at sea and its adventures. ... Marinos Antypas was born in the village Feredinata of Kefalonia at 1872 and he was murdered in Pirgetos of Thessaly at 1907. ... Andreas Andy Gerasimos Michalitsianos (May 22, 1947 – October 29th, 1997) was a Greek-American astronomer and a NASA astrophysicist. ... This article is about the American space agency. ... Keti Garbi aka Kaiti Garbi or Katy Garbi (Greek: ) (born June 8, 1963, in Egaleo, Athens) is a popular Greek singer in Greece, Cyprus and Turkey. ...

Sports

Football

See also: Kefalonia-Ithaca Football Clubs Association

• A.O. Anogi - Anogi
• Argostoli A.U. - Argostoli
• Asteras Lixouri - Lixouri
• Asteras Z
• Dilinata AU - Dilinata
• Efgeros Faraklades Argostili - Argostoli
• Ikossimias AU
• Kefalliniakos
• Kefalonia-Ithaca
• Leivatho A.U. - Leivathos
• Lixouri A.U. - Lixouri
• Olympiaki Floga - Olympic Flame
• Olympiakos Argostoli - Argostoli
• Pagkefalliniakos
• Pallixouriakos A.C.
• Papavrgiakos
• PAO Kefalos
• Pylariakos - Pylaros
• Proodos Ithaki - Ithaca
• Sami AU - Sami

Kefalonia-Ithaca Football Clubs Association (Kefalonia-Ithaca F.C.A., Greek: Ένωση Ποδοσφαιρικών Σωματείων Κεφαλληνίας και Ιθάκης Enosis Podosfairikon Somateion Kefalinias kai Ithakis) is one of the newest Greek amateur football clubs associations, representing teams from the Greek prefecture and the island of Zakynthos. ... A.O. Anogi (Greek: ) is an athletic club based in the village of Agia Thekli in the Fokida prefecture in Greece. ... Argostoli (Greek: Modern: Αργοστόλι, Ancient/Katharevousa: -ον, -on) has been the capital and administrative centre of Kefalonia, Greece, since 1757, following a population shift down from the old capital of Agios Georgios (also known as Kastro) to take advantage of the trading opportunities provided by the sheltered bay upon which Argostoli sits. ... Dilinata (Greek: Διλινάτα) is a small settlement located 9 km northeast of Argostoli, NW of Sami and north of the Argostoli-Sami Road (GR-50) and E of Davgata. ... The municipality of Leivathoslies south of Argostoli and has a population of 4663 habitants according to the Census of 2001 The municipality is made up from the following villages: Keramies Karavados Lakithra Lourdata Metaxata Peratata Pesada Svoronata See also Communities of Kefalonia Categories: | ... Olympiakos Argostoli (Greek: Π.Α.Κ.Σ. Ολυμπιακός Αργοστολίου ) is one of the oldest football (soccer) club in Greece. ...

Baseball

• AINOS Kefalonias (2nd place in 2004)

Transportation

Roads

Stone roads and sidewalks once were common in Argostoli and Lixouri. Gravel roads replaced stone roads in the late 20th century, with the first paved road created in the 1960s on two one-way main streets in Argostoli. Other roads linking to Sami, to Poros, and to Lixouri, were built in the 1970s and 1980s. In the 1990s the road network east of Argostoli to Michata and the monastery was opened. There now is a paved road with gravel, opened in 2002, east of Argostoli. There are approximately 2.5 km of one-way streets on the island. The island's main street is J. Metaxas Street.

Other routes include:

• Greek National Road 50, commonly Argostoli-Sami Road
• Argostoli-Poros Road
• Argostoli-Fiskardo Road
• Road linking Poros and Sami
• Road linking Sami and Lixouri

Airport

Kefalonia has one airport, Kefalonia Island International Airport, with a runway around 2.4 km. in length, located about 10 km south of Argostoli. Almost every scheduled flight is an Olympic route, flying mainly to and from Athens, although there is an Ionian Island Hopper service 3 times a week calling at Kefalonia, Zante and Lefkas. In summer the airport handles a number of charter flights from all over Europe. , Kefalonia Island International Airport (IATA: EFL, ICAO: LGKF) is an airport on Kefalonia Island, Greece. ... Olympic Airlines Boeing 737 Olympic Airlines (Ολυμπιακές Αερογραμμές - O.A.) is the state-run, flag carrier of Greece. ... Zakýnthos (Ζάκυνθος, also known as Zante), the third largest of the Ionian Islands, covers an area of 410 square kilometers and its coastline is roughly 123 kilometers in length. ... Lefkada, or Lefkas (Greek: Modern: Λευκάδα, Ancient/Katharevousa: -as) is an Greek island in the Ionian Sea, connected to the mainland by a long causeway and floating bridge. ...

Communications

Radio

• Radiokimata - Tzanata

Television

• • Kefalonia TV
  • Planet TV

Municipalities and communities

See also: List of settlements in the Kefalonia and Ithaka prefecture Argostoli (Greek: Modern: Αργοστόλι, Ancient/Katharevousa: -ον, -on) has been the capital and administrative centre of Kefalonia, Greece, since 1757, following a population shift down from the old capital of Agios Georgios (also known as Kastro) to take advantage of the trading opportunities provided by the sheltered bay upon which Argostoli sits. ... Pastra (Greek: Πάστρα) is a community located in the southeastern part of the island of Kefallonia. ... Erisos (Έρισος) is a municipality in Kefalonia, Greece. ... The municipality of Leivathoslies south of Argostoli and has a population of 4663 habitants according to the Census of 2001 The municipality is made up from the following villages: Keramies Karavados Lakithra Lourdata Metaxata Peratata Pesada Svoronata See also Communities of Kefalonia Categories: | ... Keramies (Greek: Κεραμειές) is a community located in the southwest part of the island of Kefalonia. ... Cephalonia and Ithaca, elevation map Paliki (Παλική PalikÄ“) is a peninsula off Kefalonia, one of the Ionian islands of western Greece, at , . It is also the ancient name of Lixouri, the main city on the peninsula (YPES code 2707). ... Cephalonia and Ithaca, elevation map Paliki (Παλική PalikÄ“) is a peninsula off Kefalonia, one of the Ionian islands of western Greece, at , , belonging to the municipality of Lixouri (YPES code 2707). ... Pylaros (Πύλαρος) is one of the municipalities on the Ionian island of Kefalonia (κεφαλονιά). The seat of the municipality is Agia Effimia. ... Sami (Σάμη) is a municipality in Kefalonia, Greece. ... Omala (Ομαλά) is a community in Kefalonia, Greece. ... Valsamata (Greek: Βαλσαμάτα), also Valsamada is a village located 17 km feast of Argostoli and about 38 km W of Poros in the community of Omala on the island of Kefalonia. ... This is a list of settlements in the prefecture of Kefalonia, Greece. ...

References

Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... is the 87th day of the year (88th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... is the 219th day of the year (220th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...

External links

• Municipallity of Elios-Pronni
• Loggerhead sea turtle conservation in Kefalonia
• The first page for Kefalonia on the Internet, since 1994
• The Andreas Gerasimos Michalitsianos telescope

Coordinates: 38°12′N, 20°30′E The Ionian Islands (Modern Greek: Ιόνια νησιά, Ionia nisia; Ancient Greek: , Ionioi NÄ“soi) are a group of islands in Greece. ... Antikythera (Αντικύθηρα) is a Greek island community with a land area of 20. ... A beach on Antipaxos Antipaxos is a small (5 square kilometres), unspoilt Greek island about 3 kilometers to the south of Paxos. ... Arkoudi is a Greek island in the Ionian Islands. ... Atokos (Greek: Άτοκος), is a Greek island in the Ionian Islands. ... This article is about the Greek island Kerkyra known in English as Corfu or Corcyra. ... Drakonera or Dhragonára (Greek: Δρακονέρα) is an island of the Echinades, among the Ionian Islands group of Greece. ... Elafonissos (Greek: Ελαφόνησος) or Elafonisos is a small Greek island between the Peloponnese and Kythira. ... Ereikoussa is a Greek island in the Ionian Islands. ... Ithaca, see Ithaca (disambiguation). ... For other places or objects named Ithaca, see Ithaca (disambiguation). ... Kalamos (Greek: Κάλαμος), known in antiquity as Karnos (Καρνος), is a mountainous Greek island in the Ionian Sea. ... Kastos is a Greek island in the Ionian Islands. ... Kythira (Îœodern Hellenic: Κύθηρα), also known as Cerigo (Τσιρίγο), also spelt: Kithira, Kythera, Cythera, Cerigo or Tsirigo, is an hellenic island, historically part of the Ionian Islands. ... Lazaretto island, (formerly known as Aghios Dimitrios) is located two nautical miles northeast of Corfu. ... Lefkada, or Lefkas (Greek: Modern: Λευκάδα, Ancient/Katharevousa: -as) is a Greek island in the Ionian Sea, connected to the mainland by a long causeway and floating bridge, as well as the islands capital city. ... Makri is a Greek island, one of the Echinades, in the Ionian Islands group. ... Mathraki is a Greek island in the Ionian Islands. ... Meganisi or Meganissi (Greek, Modern: Μεγανήσι, literally big island), older forms: Meganision and Meganission is a Greek island and municipality immediately to the east-southeast of Lefkada. ... Othonoi is a Greek island in the Ionian Islands. ... Oxeia (also Oxiés, Oxiá, or Oxia) is a Greek island. ... The natural port of Gaios, created by the islet Pontikonisi (center) resembles a fjord. ... Petalas or Petalá is the largest island (area 5. ... Psitros (Greek: Πίστρος) is an islet east of Ithaca, one of the Ionian Islands in Greece. ... Pontikos or Pondikónisi is an island of the Echinades, among the Ionian Islands group of Greece. ... Prováti (Greek: Προβάτι) is an island of the Echinades, among the Ionian Islands group of Greece. ... Skorpios is an island in the Ionian Sea off the western coast of Greece. ... Strofades is a small group of Greek islands in the Ionian Islands. ... Vido (Greek: Βιδο) is an island of the Ionian Islands group of Greece. ... Vromonas is a Greek island in the Ionian Islands. ... “Zante” redirects here. ... Map of Earth showing lines of latitude (horizontally) and longitude (vertically), Eckert VI projection; large version (pdf, 1. ...