Our Island, Samos

  General

  Samos is an island located in the Easter part of Aegean Sea. The combination of riches in flora mountains with crystal blue
waters of coasts of the island is the magic picture that makes it distinguish from the other islands. Its extent is 478,2 square kilometres and has 33,814 residents. Samos is constituted by four municipalities, Samos, Karlovasi, Pythagorio and Marathokampos, with capital Samos or Vathi, which is one of the biggest natural gulves in Balkans. In the sea side of island exist a lot of small traditional hamlets forgotten from the byway of time and other developed reason of big visit that they know from their thousands visitors, that prefer our island for their holiday each year.

  Mountains

The island is characterized mountainous and the taller mountains of Aegean is found in Samos, has two (2) big mountains, wild and rocky Kerkis, height 1443 meters and the verdant Ambelos or Karvoynis, height 1160 meters.
  In Kerkis you will meet a lot of caves, the more important are: Kakoperato (Kako perasma), Panagia "Virgin Mary" (Sarantaskaliotissa), Panagia "Virgin Mary" (makrine), the Hole of Panaretos, the cave Kandile and the cave of Pythagoras.
  The mountain “Ambelos” took its name from a lot of vines that they cultivated there at the antiquity. The mountain this is acquaintance in Samos called “Karvoynis” and covers the central and Eastern department of Samos. His taller top is the Prophet Ilias that has altitude 1153 m. and bend from this top they exist also' other that their altitude exceeds the 1000 meters, as Ginaioi and Lazarus.

  Plains

  Our island is composed from (4) four plains, Chora's plain, Mesokampos's plain ,Vlamari's plain close to Vathi and Karlovasi's plain at the north-western side of the island.

  Wetlands

  The wetlands of our island constitute an ideal and hospitable place for the birds because they can easy find food, hide from their enemies and they can be repeated. Alyki wetlands, Mesokampos swamp, Pythagorio's lakes called Glyfades and Chora's swamp are the most important wetlands.  
  Alyki wetlands located in the eastern part of the island, toward and short distance from the Micrasian coast. The total surface area thereof is 420.000 square metres of which 350.000 square metres is the old Alyki and the remaining 70.000 square metres are swamp. Each year, in the winter time where the water in the lake raises, gather a lot of birds, flamingo, widgeons, swans and herons that live up the region. The summertime the water disappears, the lake dries out and the birds leaves it. Totally have been recorded 127 species of birds in the biotope, which are leykotsikniades, foinikoptera, wild silver chickens, brown ducks, islander partridges, eagles, gerakines, kalamokanades, gulls etc., which they are characterized as seldom or threatened with disappearance. Mammals of biotope are hedgehogs, hares, black mice, jackals, while the amphibians and the reptiles are represented by frogs, river turtles, Greek turtles, chameleons, water snakes, lizards etc.
  In the region of Municipality Pythagorio exists the lake of Glyfades that is constituted by Small and Big Glyfades and the marsh of Chora. Small Glyfades has water winter and summertime also, communicates with Big Glyfades with continuous flow of water. Her creation is owed in the existence of many small sources that supplies her with brackish waters. In wetlands froth and remain immigratory birds as herons, ducks, silver pelicans and endemic. In the banks and the stubbles live small reptiles and in her waters exist small and big fishes.

  Waterfalls

  Samos hides a lot of surprises and one of them is the waterfalls in Potami, Karlovasi. A splendid and no particularly difficult way as you will easy find an evident path up to the first waterfall that is the smallest. There precisely is the middle of the way, after so that you reach in the big waterfall you mast be able to climb the 50-60 wooden steps coming out in a clearing with splendid view place, in the forest. So that you reach in the bigger waterfall you should know that in two or three points the waters likely are deep that possibly needs you to swim, the waterfall has roughly 5 meters height.

  Beaches

  In beach of Samos exist tens sandy beaches and beaches that promise unique enjoyments in the lovers of sea. Those who prefer the comforts and the easy access they will find that they ask in the big organized beaches in Kokkari, Mykali, Potokaki, Kampos Marathokamoy but also in smaller unique beauty Psyli Ammos, Klima, Limnionas, Tsamadoy, Galazio, Kerveli and splendid Balos. Those who however worship the nature and seek for unique and far from the culture beaches, without teases them the discomfort of earthy street and walk, then they will know the sandy beaches in the regions Lakka, Moyrtia, Tsopela, Small and Big Seitani, Plaka, Katsoyni, Kalogera and the two astonishing sandy beaches that are found next to holy desolation of Abbey of Saint Ioannis, Eleimona.