Kastos
Encyclopedia
Kastos is a Greek island and a former community
east of the island of Lefkada
, Ionian Islands
, Greece
. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Lefkada
, of which it is a municipal unit. Until the mid-1970s, the island was administered under the Kefalonia
prefecture with Ithaca
. Its nearest island is Kalamos
, with a deep channel between them; the mainland is approximately 5 km to the northeast in Aetolia-Acarnania
.
Kastos has a school(where is now the offices of the local community, since the last students graduated in 1981), a church and a square (plateia
), its nearest lyceum (middle school) and gymnasium (secondary school) is in Aetolia-Acarnania but most of its students attend school in Nydri
(on the island of Lefkada
).
s, form its seasonal character. The island is 7 km long from north to south, and 800 m wide. The area is 5.901 km² and its highest point is 142 m over the Mediterranean Sea
level.
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. ...
east of the island of Lefkada
Lefkada
Lefkada, or Leucas or Leucadia , is a Greek island in the Ionian Sea on the west coast of Greece, connected to the mainland by a long causeway and floating bridge. The principal town of the island and seat of the municipality is Lefkada . It is situated on the northern part of the island,...
, 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 Lefkada
Lefkada
Lefkada, or Leucas or Leucadia , is a Greek island in the Ionian Sea on the west coast of Greece, connected to the mainland by a long causeway and floating bridge. The principal town of the island and seat of the municipality is Lefkada . It is situated on the northern part of the island,...
, of which it is a municipal unit. Until the mid-1970s, the island was administered under the Kefalonia
Kefalonia
The island of Cephalonia, also known as Kefalonia, Cephallenia, Cephallonia, Kefallinia, or Kefallonia , is the largest of the Ionian Islands in western Greece, with an area of . It is also a separate regional unit of the Ionian Islands region, and the only municipality of the regional unit...
prefecture with Ithaca
Ithaca
Ithaca or Ithaka is an island located in the Ionian Sea, in Greece, with an area of and a little more than three thousand inhabitants. It is also a separate regional unit of the Ionian Islands region, and the only municipality of the regional unit. It lies off the northeast coast of Kefalonia and...
. Its nearest island is Kalamos
Kalamos (island)
Kálamos , is a mountainous island and a former community in the Ionian Islands, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Lefkada, of which it is a municipal unit. It lies east of Lefkada, near the Greek mainland...
, with a deep channel between them; the mainland is approximately 5 km to the northeast in Aetolia-Acarnania
Aetolia-Acarnania
Aetolia-Acarnania is one of the regional units of Greece. It is part of the region of West Greece. It is located in the western part of Greece; the regional unit is a combination of the geographic regions Aetolia and Acarnania. Its capital is Missolonghi for historical reasons, with its biggest...
.
Kastos has a school(where is now the offices of the local community, since the last students graduated in 1981), a church 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...
), its nearest lyceum (middle school) and gymnasium (secondary school) is in Aetolia-Acarnania but most of its students attend school in Nydri
Nydri
Nydri is a town located in the eastern part of the island of Lefkada, Greece. It is part of the municipal unit Ellomenos. It is linked with a road linking with Vasiliki and north to Lefkada and with the GR-42 with the mainland...
(on the island of Lefkada
Lefkada
Lefkada, or Leucas or Leucadia , is a Greek island in the Ionian Sea on the west coast of Greece, connected to the mainland by a long causeway and floating bridge. The principal town of the island and seat of the municipality is Lefkada . It is situated on the northern part of the island,...
).
Geography
The island has only one village, the homonymous Kastos, located on its east coast. It has a population of about 120, involved mainly in fishing and tourism services. During the summer Kastioti of the diaspora return for holidays and, together with the fluctuating visitors arriving on yachtYacht
A yacht is a recreational boat or ship. The term originated from the Dutch Jacht meaning "hunt". It was originally defined as a light fast sailing vessel used by the Dutch navy to pursue pirates and other transgressors around and into the shallow waters of the Low Countries...
s, form its seasonal character. The island is 7 km long from north to south, and 800 m wide. The area is 5.901 km² and its highest point is 142 m over the Mediterranean Sea
Mediterranean Sea
The Mediterranean Sea is a sea connected to the Atlantic Ocean surrounded by the Mediterranean region and almost completely enclosed by land: on the north by Anatolia and Europe, on the south by North Africa, and on the east by the Levant...
level.
Population
| Year | Island population |
|---|---|
| 1981 | 68 |
| 1991 | 50 |
| 2001 | 120 |
| 2011 | 78 |