General about Zakynthos !
Zakynthos is the southernmost and third largest in both size and population of the Ionian Islands. It is situated 8,5 nautical miles south of Kefalonia, 9,5 nautical miles west of the Peloponese and approximately 300 kilometers west of Athens capital of Greece.
The ideal geographical position of Zakynthos ensures easy travel to the other islands and the mainland of Greece. The ancient city of Olympia, the birthplace and original venue of the Olympic Games is only a short journey across the Peloponese. Zakynthos or else referred as Zante is the ideal base to link up to the larger cities of Greece such as Patras and Athens the capital of Greece.
Zakynthos is an island full of contrasts, consists of mainly woodland, with an abundance of pine tree covered mountains and fertile plains. Numerous picturesque beaches can be found in the north, east and south whereas in the west the imposing, rocky landscape offers ideal sea caves such as the famous Blue Caves and Smugglers Wreck on the North West of Zakynthos.
The island is particularly rich in terms of flora and fauna, with a verdant environment of trees and forests and a wide range of rare flowers and plants. Agriculturally, Zakynthos is a productive island supported mainly by the cultivation of olives, raisins, citrus fruits and vine trees.
The climate in Zakynthos is mild Mediterranean with often rainfalls during Winter months with breaks of winter sunny days and brilliant sunshine during Summer. The climate of the island provides rich vegetation a proof of which are the names “Fior di Levante” (Flower of the East) by the Venetians and “Iliessa” (full of woods) by Homer.
Zakynthos environment has become an object of international interest because the loggerhead turtle Caretta-caretta, an endangered species protected by international conventions and by Greek legislation lays its eggs on the island's southern shores, at Laganas bay. Already, Greece is going ahead to create a National Marine Park in the Laganas Bay with the sole purpose of protecting this rare species. Also, on the steep western shores of the island the Mediterranean monk seal Monachus-monachus lives and breeds, a species also protected by Greek low.
