| 20th | Top islands of Greece |
| Lefkada Prefecture Νομός Λευκάδας |
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| Country: |  Greece |
| Capital: | Lefkada (city) |
| Periphery: | Ionian Islands |
| Population: | 22,879 (2005)Ranked 54th |
| Area: | 325 km² (125 sq.mi.) Ranked 54th |
| Density: | 70 /km² (182 /sq.mi.) |
| Number of municipalities: | 6 |
| Number of communities: | 2 |
| Postal codes: | 31x xx |
| Area codes: | 26450 |
| Licence plate code: | ΕΥ |
| ISO 3166-2 code: | GR-26 |
| Website: | www.lefkada.gr |
Lefkada, or Leucas (Greek: Λευκάδα, /le̞fˈkaða/; ancient Greek and Katharevousa: Λευκάς, Lefkás; Italian: Santa Maura) 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 city of Lefkada, is situated on the northern part of the island, approximately 20 minutes by automobile away from Aktion National Airport. The Prefecture of Lefkada comprises Lefkada island plus the smaller nearby islands of Meganisi, Kalamos, Kastos, Madouri, Skorpios, and Sparti. It is the smallest prefecture of Greece in both land area and population (2001 census).
Lefkada Town (population: 6,903), has a pedestrianised main street, a marina, and bus access to Athens.
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The myth about Sappho's suicide at Cape Lefkada is related to other myths linking the island to the ancient Greek goddess of love, Aphrodite, and to Odysseus, the hero of Homer's Odyssey. The German archaeologist Wilhelm Dörpfeld, having performed excavations at various locations of Lefkada, was able to obtain funding to do work on the island by suggesting that Lefkada was Homer's Ithaca, and the palace of Odysseus was located west of Nidri on the south coast of Lefkada. There have been suggestions by local tourism officials that several passages in the Odyssey point to Lefkada as a possible model for Homeric Ithaca. The most notable of these passages pushed by the local tourism board describes Ithaca as an island reachable on foot, which was the case for Lefkada since it is not really an island, that it was connected to the mainland by a narrow causeway.According to Strabo X,2 the coast of Acarnania was called Leucas in earlier times. The ancient sources call Leucas a Corinthian colony, perhaps with a Corcyraen participation[1]. During the Peloponnesian War Leucas had joined the Spartan Confederation[2]. Ottomans called it as "Ayamavra" (According to Ottoman records) and ruled it between 1479-1502, 1504-1684 and 1715-1716[3][4].
The east coast section of the island has small resorts of Lefkada, Nikiana and Perigiali, all north of Nidri, the largest resort on the island. It is set in a sheltered location with views across to Skorpios—owned by Aristotle Onassis, Meganissi and other small islands, as well as the Greek mainland. The main coastal road from Lefkada to Vasiliki runs through the town, although a bypass is being built. There are regular car ferries to Kefalonia, Ithaca and Meganissi.
20 km south of Nidri is the resort of Vasiliki, a windsurfing center. There are ferries to Kefalonia and Ithaca from Vasiliki. South of Vasiliki is Cape Lefkada, where the Greek female poet Sappho allegedly leapt to her death from the 30 m high cliffs.
The famous beach of Porto Katsiki is located on Lefkada's west coast. Lefkada was attached to mainland Greece (see above about Homer's Ithaca being Lefkada). The Corinthians dug a trench in the 7th century BC on its isthmus.[5]
The island has a typical Mediterranean climate: hot summers and cool winters, especially in the mountains.
| Municipality | YPES code | Seat | Postal code |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apollonioi | 3601 | Vasiliki | 310 82 |
| Ellomenos | 3602 | Nydri | 311 00 |
| Karya | 3604 | 310 80 | |
| Lefkada (city) | 3606 | 311 00 | |
| Meganisi | 3607 | Katomeri | 310 83 |
| Sfakiotes | 3608 | Lazarata | 310 80 |
| Community | YPES code | Seat | Postal code |
| Kalamos | 3603 | 310 81 | |
| Kastos | 3605 | 310 81 |
Note: Meganisi, Kalamos, and Kastos are all on separate islands, whereas the rest of the above are actually on Lefkada Island itself.
See also: List of settlements in the Lefkada prefecture
(in chronological order)
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Coordinates: 38°43′N 20°39′E / 38.717°N 20.65°E
Lefkada is one of the most beautiful islands in the Ionian Sea, with beaches such as Porto Katsiki and Eggremnoi.
Lefkada N 38 48' 47" E 20 40' 51.28@
Nidri N 38* 46' 06" E 20 42' 6" Karya N 38* 46' 19" E 20 46' 89"
Vasiliki N 38 26' 28" E 20 35' 98"
Modern Greek
Although Lefkas is an island, it's connected to the mainland by a causeway and floating bridge. The airport, near Preveza, is 20 minutes drive from Lefkas town, at the north tip of the island.
Charter flights from many European countries operate to Preveza from May through October. Olympic airways fly to Preveza several times a week throughout the year.
Athens is about 5 hours by bus, with several journeys per day.
There are daily ferries to Vassiliki on Kefalonia, and Ithika, from the East coast town of Nidri. Ferries to Italy (Bari, Brindisi, Ancona, Venice, Trieste) run from Igominitza, about a 90 minute drive onto the mainland from Lefkas Town
Rental car is the most efficient mode of transportation. Buses and taxis are also available.
Beach Kite flying Sailing Boating Wind Surfing - some of the best in Europe on the South of the island in Vasiliki Relaxing
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Lef·ka·da
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Singular |
Plural |
Lefkada
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[[File:|200px|right|thumb|Lefkada from Satellite]] Lefkada is a Greek island. It is located in the west of Greece in Ionian Sea. It is the fourth largest island of Ionian Sea after Kefalonia, Corfu and Zakynthos. Its total area is 303 sq. m.. Its population is 22,789 residents according to 2001 Greek census. There aren't any big cities on the island. The largest town of Lefkada is Lefkada (city). Its population is 10.875 inhabitants.
Lefkada is famous for its beautiful beaches. The island is surrounded by many beautiful beaches with azure-green color. The most impressive beaches are Porto Katsiki, Kathisma and Egremnoi. All of these beaches are located in the west of the island. According to Guardian newspaper the Porto Katsiki beach is one of the most beautiful beaches in Europe.[1]
Every year many tourists visit lefkada. Tourists come from western European countries, mainly from Italy. The most touristic village on the island is Nidri which is located in the east of the island. Opposite Nidri there are many small green islets. Among them is the islet Scorpios which belonged to millionaire Aristotelis Onassis.
The German archaeologist Wilhelm Dörpfeld, believed that Lefkada was the real country of Odysseus. In Classic period, Lefkada was a colony of Corinth. Later it passed under the Roman rule and Byzantine rule. In medieval era many conquerors passed from the island. In the thirteenth century Venice took the island from Byzantium. The Venetians remained in island for many years. The Turks conquered the island for a brief period but the Venetians took the island back and held it until 1797. Then the Napoleon's France took the island and after the island passed in England. In 1864, the English gave Lefkada to Greece, along with the other Ionian islands.
   | Information on the Lefkada Prefecture - Prefecture of Lefkadas |
| | Lefkada's island portal - e-lefkas.gr / Lefkas (Lefkada) Island - Discover it! |
| | Lefkada island guide - Travel-to-Lefkada.com - The Best Guide To Lefkada Island, Greece |
| | E-lefkas - e-lefkas.gr / Lefkas (Lefkada) Island - Discover it! |
| | Lefkada by Greeka - Lefkada Greece: Travel guide to Lefkada Island, Ionian, Greek Islands |
| | Homepage of the city of Lefkas - lefkas-city.gr |
| | 360° Virtual tours of Lefkada - Hellas - Greece: Panoramic & Aerial Photos of Greece - hoteles grecia |
| | Lefkada - Holiday.gr - LEFKADA, a trip to a myth! |
| | Lefkas at a Glance - Friends of the Ionian - Corfu, Ithaca, Lefkas, Kefalonia, Paxos, Zakynthos - |
| | Lefkas Island - Holidays in Lefkas | tourist travel guide to Lefkas island Greece |
| | Friends of the Ionian - Friends of the Ionian - Corfu, Ithaca, Lefkas, Kefalonia, Paxos, Zakynthos - |
| | Lefkada real estate - GREEK REAL ESTATE GREECE PROPERTIES |
| | independent website with info on nidri - UK2 | Domain Names, Web Hosting, E-commerce and Dedicated Servers |
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