Ithaki's climate is mild, mediterranean climate, with a rainy, mild winter
and a dry summer. The overage temperature year-round is between 13o C and 18o C, while the winter is sometimes very cold and the summer very hot. The
temperature never rises above 40o C.
On the few plains on the island, the cultivation of olive trees and grapevines
produce excellent oil and wine. Few inhabitants occupy themselves with stock-breeding;
they produce cheese as well as other products.
Ithaki is the subprefecture of the prefecture of Kefalonia. Ithaki's capital
is the port of Vathi. The island is situated south of Lefkada and only 2
nautical miles northwest of Kefalonia. The island has a surface area of
96 square km and a population of 3,700. The island has several bays, through
its 101 km-long coasts.
The flora of Ithaki includes all the typical species seen throughout the
Ionian Islands. On the mountain slopes there are oak trees, cypress trees
and beautiful wildflowers such as wild daisies, poppies, anemones and cyclamens.
On the lower plains there are olive trees and grapevines.
Geologically, the island of Ithaki is part of the Adriatic-Ionian Zone.
Its rock formations are made of limestone and mother of pearl. Molos bay
and its surrounding area are quake sinking from the last geological period.
Ithaki, as well as the rest of the Ionian Islands, suffers from frequent
earthquakes. The strongest earthquake took place in 1953, destroying the
majority of the buildings in the capital and the villages. Despite this
fact, the inhabitants, determined and patient, succeeded in rebuilding their
island area restoring their livelihood.
Ithaki is a mountainous island. In the north is the mountain of Niritos
(806m high); in the south are the mountains of Merovigli and Nerovoulo (669m
and 582m respectively). It is said that, in antiquity, the mountains were
covered with oak trees. Today, there are only a few oak trees, because of
fires and human interference.
The people of Ithaki are similar to the rest of the Ionian inhabitants.
They are polite and hospitable, and they love literature, music and dance.
They are mild and quite, and they love to work. Most of their main occupations
revolve around the sea. Only a few are occupied with farming or stock-breeding.
Only in recent years have the majority of Ithaki's inhabitants occupied
themselves with tourism.
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