The island of Patmos is situated in the southeastern Aegean Sea between Icaria and Leros, covering an extension of 34.6 sq. km. The coasts are 63 km long, while the island is 163 n.m. away from Piraeus. Patmos is an island with limited vegetation, cultivated fruit and olive trees and many low mountains, not taller than a large hill. The highest peaks are: Profitis Ilias (269 m.), Moni Theologou (240 m.), Kokino (194 m.), Prasino (145 m.), Pahies (142 m.) and Alifasko (124 m.), on the southern part of the island. The northern part of Patmos includes mountains such as Hondro (228 m.), Merikas (213 m.), Agios Nikolaos Evdilou (181 m.), Kounia (119 m.), Koumana (99 m.) and Geranos (94 m.). The island's climate is very healthy. Mild, with cool summers and warm winters, the island is sunny throughout the year, while the winds are usually blowing for the North, Northwest and West. The 2,500 inhabitants of Patmos live in Hora, Skala and smaller settlements of the island. The locals are good-hearted, the most hospitable of all Dodecanesians and always kind and willing to help out strangers. In spite of the island's touristic development, the locals maintain their polite, spontaneous and cheerful character. The inhabitants of Patmos are occupied mainly with fishing, farming and stock-breeding, while only a few of them are occupied with tourism.