The climate of Lefkada is mediterranean, with few clouds and a hot sun. The summer is hot, dry and cool due to the wind blowing from the sea, and the winter is mild with frequent rain and rare snow.

The island of Lefkada is predominantly mountainous, thus most of the locals emigrate, while those remaining try to cultivate the plains. On the mountain slopes, people have built "pezoules" to exploit every part of the land. The cultivation is mostly of grapevines, olives, lentils, potatoes and chick-pean. The main agricultural occupation in Lefkada is the cultivation of olives, including the collection of the olives, their transport to "eleotrivio" and the enclosure of the oil in large "Kades". The tasty lentils of Lefkada are cultivated in the plateau of Agios Donatos where the crop is kept in special places having the shape of arched ovens called "volta". The island's western side produces red wine from the "vartsami" grape and it is sold abroad. Another occupation is apiculture, while south of the capital, in Alykes, the salt produced here supplies the entire island. The locals are also occupied with fishing, mostly in the marine area northeast of the island.

The prefecture of Lefkada -the town of Lefkada is the capital- includes the island of Lefkada and the nearby islets of Skorpios, Meganissi, Sparti, Kalamos, Skorpidi, Thilia, Kithros, Kastos and Madouri. The prefecture has a population of 23,000 inhabitants. The island of Lefkada has a surface area of 303 sq. km and its coasts are 117 km long. Lefkada is joined with Aitoloakarnania by a thin lane of land, 25 m long. The island of Lefkada is the fourth largest island in the Ionian Sea. Only 10 sq. km of the island's extension are flat. The island has a population of 20,000 inhabitants.

The island of Lefkada is a mountainous region with coniferous trees, such as cypress and pine trees, which grow in the southeast. On the southeastern part of the island, one can mainly see mostly bushes and, on the top of mount Skaros, the querqus cessiliflora, a rare spieces of oak. The most common trees on the island are platans and oaks. In the area surrounding the lagoon, there are rare water plants. The fauna of Lefkada include rare species of birds, wild geese, pelikans etc.

The Ionian Islands suffer from frequent earthquakes, as in this area, according to geologists, there are quake breaches. This fact, is a reason for the steep coasts on the western side, which create a scenery of unique beauty. The most destructive earthquakes in Lefkada took place in 1825 and 1948. A lot of buildings collapsed and many people were left homeless.

The island of Lefkada is mountainous, with more than 80% of its area made up of mountains. The highest mountain on Lefkada is mount Stavrota, also known as Elati, (1,158 m. high), situated in the centre of the island. From this point, a series of smaller mountains stretch to the west. The most significant peaks are Agios Elias, Pirgos and Mega Oros. Outside the village of Rahi, which literally hangs from the rock, there is a location of unique physical beauty. This is where the gorge of Demosari is situated, with its huge rocks and water falls formed by the water running violently through the rocks. The scenery is of unique beauty, even in the summer, when the water is less voluminous than in the winter. The area is pleasantly refreshing to its visitors.

The island has no rivers, only waterfalls in the winter. In the town of Lefkada, there is a lagoon -1,200 m long and 1.5 m deep- separating the island from Aitoloakarnania. It is said that, in pre-history, the island of Lefkada was joined with the mainland.

Many foreign travellers passing through the island of Lefkada have given their accounts of the locals, yet their opinions vary as they are subjective. The General Administrator of Ionian Islands, Dophin, in the early 18th century, praised the bravery of the locals, calling them "restless and impulsive spirits", while the French Ambassador, Andre Grassel, describes the locals of the 18th century as "quiet" and "easy to convince". Nevertheless, current events and the island's history prove that the people of Lefkada are brave and determined. They combine the hospitality and the friendliness of the Epirotians with the energy and the spirit of the people of the Ionian Islands. The beauty of the women of Lefkada is often praised in literature. The locals always loved reading and music. Even today, they like to promenade on the road by the sea, which is the center of cultural and social activity and they gather in the quiet, traditional coffeeshops to drink and talk while listening to guitar playing.