Agathonísi (Greek: Αγαθονήσι) is a small Greek island and municipality located at the northernmost point of the Dodecanese in Greece. It is surrounded by many smaller islands and is home to two villages, both inland; Megalo Chorio ("Big Village"), and Mikro Chorio ("Small Village"). Between them is the small settlement of Agios Georgios (Saint George), which forms the island's only harbor and consists of a few hotels and restaurants. The island is also locally known as Gaidaro ("Donkey"), or by its ancient name Tragea.

Agathonisi
Αγαθονήσι
Agathonisi, with the small harbor of Agios Georgios
Agathonisi, with the small harbor of Agios Georgios
Agathonisi is located in Greece
Agathonisi
Agathonisi
Location within the region
Coordinates: 37°27.5′N 26°58′E / 37.4583°N 26.967°E / 37.4583; 26.967
CountryGreece
Administrative regionSouth Aegean
Regional unitKalymnos
Area
 • Municipality
14.5 km2 (5.6 sq mi)
Population
 (2021)[1]
 • Municipality
202
 • Density14/km2 (36/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+2 (EET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+3 (EEST)
Front, left to right: Arkoi, Leipsoi, Leros. Back, left to right: Agathonisi, Farmakonisi and the Turkish coastline.

The highest point on the island is 209 metres (686 feet) above sea level. This peak is located close to Mikro Chorio. The island covers an area of 13.5 square kilometres (5.2 square miles). It is made almost entirely of subcrystalline stratified limestones, and is covered with thorny macchia.[2]

In the late 1920s the island had 80 inhabitants, active in agriculture and sheep rearing.[2] A census of the island in 1981 showed that it was populated by 133 people. The 1991 census showed that the population had dropped to 112. By the 2001 census the population had again risen to 158 residents, and in 2011 its population was 185, 168 of whom lived in Megalo Chorio, and only 17 in Mikro Chorio. The municipality of Agathonisi, which includes the uninhabited offshore islets of Glaros, Kouneli, Nera, and Psathonisio, has a combined land area of 14.500 square kilometres (5.598 square miles).[3]

Name

edit

In ancient times, Agathonisi was known as Psetoussa (Ancient Greek: Ψετούσσα). Ancient writers varied in recording its name: Tragia (Τραγία), Tragiae or Tragiai (Τραγίαι), Tragaeae or Tragaiai (Τραγαῖαι), and Tragaea or Tragaia (Τραγαία) are among the forms recorded.[4] The island is known as Gaidaro in Italian and as Eşek Adası in Turkish.

History

edit

Near the island, Pericles defeated the Samians in a naval engagement in 440 BCE.[5] In modern times, the island (dependent on Patmos) was occupied in 1912 by the Kingdom of Italy during the Italo-Turkish war and, after being part of the Italian Islands of the Aegean (of which it was the northernmost islet),[2] was ceded from Italy to Greece in 1947 with the Treaty of Peace.[6]

Administration

edit

In 2011, as part of the Kallikratis Plan, the island's status has been upgraded from Community to Municipality.

Archipelago of Agathonisi

edit

Near Agathonisi lie several islets: Psatonisi, Strongili, Neronisi, Katagani, all made with crystalline limestones, and Kunellonisi, which is made of schistose-crystalline rocks.[2]

Election Results

edit
Election Turnout ND PASOK SYRIZA KKE Other
Jun 2023 45.73 49.62 16.03 16.03 3.82 14.50[a]
May 2023 52.17 52.17 16.67 20.29 4.35 6.52[b]
2019 54.72 50.00 8.57 26.43 1.43 13.57[c]
Sep 2015 44.04 47.50 12.50 14.17 5.00 20.83[d]
Jan 2015 42.91 46.72 23.77 12.30 3.28 13.93[e]
Jun 2012 45.24 46.88 15.63 11.72 6.25 19.52[f]
May 2012 49.66 26.43 5.71 2.86 7.14 57.86[g]
2009 66.19 46.67 40.56 3.33 1.67 7.77[h]
2007 54.01 54.11 34.25 0.68 8.90 2.06[i]
2004 75.00 62.11 33.16 1.58 2.63 0.52
2000 66.50 59.54 31.30 3.05[j] 1.53 4.58[k]
1996 71.05 46.27 38.81 2.24[j] 5.22 7.46[l]
1993 76.06 57.34 35.66 2.10[j] 4.20 0.70
1990 75.14 60.90 30.08 7.52[j] 1.50
Nov 1989 79.44 57.75 34.50 7.75[j] 0.00
Jun 1989 76.92 53.54 38.58 7.09[j] 0.79
1985 67.82 58.47 34.75 1.69[m] 3.39 1.70
1981 66.45 69.31 25.74 0.00[m] 0.00 4.95[n]
1977 79.23 79.61 5.83 0.00[o] 0.00 14.56[p]
1974 78.83 74.07 0.00 0.00[q] 25.93[r]

References

edit
  1. ^ "Αποτελέσματα Απογραφής Πληθυσμού - Κατοικιών 2021, Μόνιμος Πληθυσμός κατά οικισμό" [Results of the 2021 Population - Housing Census, Permanent population by settlement] (in Greek). Hellenic Statistical Authority. 29 March 2024.
  2. ^ a b c d Bertarelli (1929) p. 161
  3. ^ "Population & housing census 2001 (incl. area and average elevation)" (PDF) (in Greek). National Statistical Service of Greece. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2015-09-21.
  4. ^ Thuc. 1.116; Plin. Nat. H. 4.71, 5.135; Plut. Per. 25; Strab. xiii. p.635; Steph. B. sub voce Τραγαία.
  5. ^   Smith, William, ed. (1854–1857). "Tragia". Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography. London: John Murray.
  6. ^ Dubin (2002), p. 438

Sources

edit

  This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domainSmith, William, ed. (1854–1857). "Tragia". Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography. London: John Murray.

  • Bertarelli, L.V. (1929). Guida d'Italia, Vol. XVII (in Italian). Milano: Consociazione Turistica Italiana.

Notes

edit
  1. ^   Spartiates 3.82
      PE 2.29
      Niki 1.53
      Μ25 1.53
      EY 1.53
      Other 3.80
  2. ^   EL 1.45
      PE 1.45
      ED 1.45
      Other 2.17
  3. ^   XA 5.00
      EPAMAKKEL 3.57
      EL 2.86
      Μ25 1.43
      Other 0.71
  4. ^   ANEL 5.83
      XA 5.00
      Potami 3.33
      EK 1.67
      Other 5.00
  5. ^   XA 3.28
      DIMAR 3.28
      Potami 2.46
      ANEL 2.46
      KIDISO 2.46
  6. ^   ANEL 8.59
      XA 4.69
      DIMAR 1.56
      Other 4.68
  7. ^   KOISY 30.71
      ANEL 18.57
      XA 3.57
      OP 2.86
      Other 2.15
  8. ^   LAOS 5.00
      OP 1.11
      XA 1.11
      Other 0.55
  9. ^   KKE M–L 1.37
      Other 0.69
  10. ^ a b c d e f as Syn
  11. ^   DIKKI 3.82
      Other 0.76
  12. ^   POLAN 2.99
      DIKKI 2.24
      Other 2.23
  13. ^ a b as KKE-Es
  14. ^   EDIK 4.95
  15. ^ as Symmachia
  16. ^   EDIK 13.59
      Other 0.97
  17. ^ as EA
  18. ^   DEK 16.67
      EK–ND 9.26
  NODES
see 1
Story 2