Dodecanese
The Dodecanese are a group of islands in the south east Aegean .They
name Dodecanese means 12 islands from the Greek Dodeca (twelve) and
nisia (islands). The total population of the prefecture of Dodecanese
reaches 190,071 inhabitants and has an area of 2579.275 square
kilometres. There are airports in many of the Dodecanese islands like in
Rhodes, Kos, Kalymnos, Leros, Karpathos and Kasos. From many of the
Dodecanese islands you can visit by ferry several Cyclades islands like
Amorgos, Syros, Tinos, Mykonos, Ios and
Santorini.
The Dodecanese are not only the twelve main islands that parts the
group, there are hundreds of other small islands and islets and many of
them are inhabited.
The largest of the Dodecanese and capital of the Prefecture of the
Dodecanese is Rhodes .Rhodes is the largest island, takes its name from
the capital, and the most significant from historical point of view as
well as tourism and economic development.
The island of Kos is known as the birthplace of Hippocrates, the father
of medicine and has a developed tourist industry.
Karpathos is the most rugged and full of mountains, still partly
unspoiled from the package tourism
Kalymnos is the island of the sponge divers south of Leros
Leros, a wonderful island that retains its village character friendly
tradition and was a large naval base during the Italian occupation
Astypalea with an imposing Venetian Castle attracts many tourists of the
alternative tourism.
Patmos has with the monastery of St John and a developed tourist
industry with many wonderful sandy beaches.
Kassos is the most southerly of the islands and near Crete is among the
least tourist
Nisyros is one of the smaller islands, not very touristy and has an
active volcano.
Tilos is a green island with the beaches shaded from large tamarisk
trees.
Halki is very small and sparsely populated (only 330 people) and is
ignored by tourism.;
Simi is close to Rhodes and because of its natural and built environment
is a protected historical site.
Kastelorizo located at the extreme east edge of the Aegean and Lipsi a
small group of islands east of Patmos and north of Leros.
The above are the most larger islands of Dodecanese, there are though
many smaller islets some are inhabited like Pserimos in Kalymnos.
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