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Lefkada

geography Maturity 11-13 Next article →

Lefkada is a beautiful Greek island in the Ionian Sea.

LefkadaWW
LefkadaWW

It sits near the west coast of Greece. A long causeway and a floating bridge connect it to the mainland. This connection makes it easy to reach by car. The main town is also called Lefkada. It sits in the north part of the island. The island is part of a regional unit with the same name.

Lefkada dromos eisodos
Lefkada dromos eisodos

There are many interesting places to see on the island. In the middle, the mountain Stavrota reaches 784 meters high. The east coast has small resorts like Lygia, Nikiana, and Perigiali. One very large resort is called Nidri. South of Nidri, you can visit Vasiliki to go windsurfing.

20100726 Kalamitsi Beach Ionian Sea Lefkada island Greece
20100726 Kalamitsi Beach Ionian Sea Lefkada island Greece

The west coast is home to the famous Porto Katsiki beach. You can also take ferries from Vasiliki to islands like Kefalonia and Ithaca.

Ionian sea islands, pic6
Ionian sea islands, pic6

Lefkada has a very long and famous history. Some people believe it was the home of Odysseus. He was a hero from the story called the Odyssey. A German archaeologist named Wilhelm Dörpfeld studied the island to find clues. He thought the palace of Odysseus might be west of Nydri. The island has many old legends about people jumping from cliffs. One legend says the poet Sappho jumped from Cape Lefkada.

Expedición de Bruto a Aquitania (recortado)
Expedición de Bruto a Aquitania (recortado)

Many different groups have ruled the island over the years. In the 7th century BC, the Corinthians dug a trench to connect it to the land.

Leuchate Sta Maura - Buondelmonti Cristoforo - 1420
Leuchate Sta Maura - Buondelmonti Cristoforo - 1420

Later, the island was part of the Roman Republic. The Ottomans captured the island in 1479. They called the island Levkada. They built a long aqueduct in 1564 to bring water to the town.

Manesson-Travaux-de-Mars 9927
Manesson-Travaux-de-Mars 9927

They also built a large hexagonal fortress called the Castle of Santa Maura.

Today, the island has a Mediterranean climate. This means the summers are hot and the winters are cool. Many people visit to enjoy the sunny weather and the sea. You can see many old churches in the main town.

20140412 lefkada050
20140412 lefkada050

Some examples are the Church of the Theotokos and the Church of the Pantokrator.

20140412 lefkada040
20140412 lefkada040

The island remains a special place where history and nature meet.

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🖼️ Images & Media (10)
File:LefkadaWW.jpg
LefkadaWW.jpg
File:Lefkada dromos eisodos.jpg
Lefkada dromos eisodos.jpg
File:20100726 Kalamitsi Beach Ionian Sea Lefkada island Greece.jpg
20100726 Kalamitsi Beach Ionian Sea...
File:Expedición de Bruto a Aquitania (recortado).jpg
Expedición de Bruto a Aquitania (recortado).jpg
File:Leuchate Sta Maura - Buondelmonti Cristoforo - 1420.jpg
Leuchate Sta Maura - Buondelmonti...
Manesson-Travaux-de-Mars 9927.tif
File:20140412 lefkada050.JPG
20140412 lefkada050.JPG
File:20140412 lefkada040.JPG
20140412 lefkada040.JPG
File:Ionian sea islands, pic6.JPG
Ionian sea islands, pic6.JPG
File:Valaoritis Aggelos 6177.JPG
Valaoritis Aggelos 6177.JPG
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