Anafi
Encyclopedia
Anafi is a Greek
island
community
in the Cyclades
. In 2001, it had a population of 273 inhabitants. Its land area is 40.370 km². It lies east of the island of Thíra
(Santorini). Anafi is part of the Santorini peripheral unit.
from a bad storm. Others say that the name is due to the non-existence of snakes on the island: " An Ofis " (without snakes). In spite of its small geographical size, Anafi offers archaeological as well as mythological interest. At the monastery of Panagia Kalamiotisa, there are ruins of a temple built as an offering to the god Apollo
Aegletus. Ruins can also be found at Kasteli, and most of the findings, such as the statues, are now located at the "Archaeological Museum" at the Chora
, in an extremely small room housing these ancient findings.
are the only places in Europe with hot desert climate
s according to the Köppen climate classification
system.
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
island
Island
An island or isle is any piece of sub-continental land that is surrounded by water. Very small islands such as emergent land features on atolls can be called islets, cays or keys. An island in a river or lake may be called an eyot , or holm...
community
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 Cyclades
Cyclades
The Cyclades is a Greek island group in the Aegean Sea, south-east of the mainland of Greece; and a former administrative prefecture of Greece. They are one of the island groups which constitute the Aegean archipelago. The name refers to the islands around the sacred island of Delos...
. In 2001, it had a population of 273 inhabitants. Its land area is 40.370 km². It lies east of the island of Thíra
Santorini
Santorini , officially Thira , is an island located in the southern Aegean Sea, about southeast from Greece's mainland. It is the largest island of a small, circular archipelago which bears the same name and is the remnant of a volcanic caldera...
(Santorini). Anafi is part of the Santorini peripheral unit.
History
According to mythology, the island was given the name Anafi because it emerged from the depths of the sea to give refuge to the ArgonautsArgonauts
The Argonauts ) were a band of heroes in Greek mythology who, in the years before the Trojan War, accompanied Jason to Colchis in his quest to find the Golden Fleece. Their name comes from their ship, the Argo, which was named after its builder, Argus. "Argonauts", therefore, literally means...
from a bad storm. Others say that the name is due to the non-existence of snakes on the island: " An Ofis " (without snakes). In spite of its small geographical size, Anafi offers archaeological as well as mythological interest. At the monastery of Panagia Kalamiotisa, there are ruins of a temple built as an offering to the god Apollo
Apollo
Apollo is one of the most important and complex of the Olympian deities in Greek and Roman mythology...
Aegletus. Ruins can also be found at Kasteli, and most of the findings, such as the statues, are now located at the "Archaeological Museum" at the Chora
Chora
Chora can mean one of several things:Localities* Chora District in the Uruzgan province of Afghanistan* Chora , a district in the Oromia Region of Ethiopia* The Chora Church, a Byzantine church in Istanbul...
, in an extremely small room housing these ancient findings.
Geography
Anafi is very much an island for walking. Through the old paths and around the steep hills, you could walk to the other side of the island. The most popular beaches would be Klisidi and Roukounas. A peninsula a the eastern end of the island is dominated by a monolithic peak, Mt. Kalamos, among the largest in the Mediterranean at 584 m (1,916 ft). Perched atop this massif is the Kalamiotissa church, rebuilt in large part after an earthquake in the 1950s. The journey to and from Anafi can only be done by boat, and since they have added more destinations on the way, it takes almost 19 hours.Climate
Anafi and SantoriniSantorini
Santorini , officially Thira , is an island located in the southern Aegean Sea, about southeast from Greece's mainland. It is the largest island of a small, circular archipelago which bears the same name and is the remnant of a volcanic caldera...
are the only places in Europe with hot desert climate
Desert climate
A desert climate , also known as an arid climate, is a climate that does not meet the criteria to be classified as a polar climate, and in which precipitation is too low to sustain any vegetation at all, or at most a very scanty scrub.An area that features this climate usually experiences less than...
s according to the Köppen climate classification
Köppen climate classification
The Köppen climate classification is one of the most widely used climate classification systems. It was first published by Crimea German climatologist Wladimir Köppen in 1884, with several later modifications by Köppen himself, notably in 1918 and 1936...
system.