Poros

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This article is about the island-pair in the Saronic gulf. For other uses, see Poros (disambiguation).

Poros (Πόρος)
Coordinates	37°31′ N 23°29′ E
Country	Greece
Periphery	Attica
Prefecture	Piraeus
Population	4,348 source (2001)
Area	49.58 km²
Population density	88 /km²
Elevation	22 m
Postal code	180 20
Area code	22980

Poros (Greek: Πόρος) is a small Greek island-pair in the southern part of the Saronic Gulf, at a distance about 48 km (32 miles) south from Piraeus and separated from the Peloponnese by a 200-metre wide sea channel. Its surface is about 31 square kilometres (12 square miles) and it has 4,000 inhabitants. The ancient name of Poros was Pogon.

Poros consists of two islands: Sphairia, the southern part, which is of volcanic origin, where today's city is located, and Kalaureia, also Calauria (meaning 'gentle breeze'), the northern and largest part. A bridge connects the two islands over a narrow isthmus.

Poros is an island with rich vegetation. Much of the northern and far eastern/western sides of the island are bushy, whereas large areas of old pine forest are found in the south and center of the island. It has a good road network and adequate touristic infrastructure, what makes it a popular resort for short holidays, as it is easily accessible from Athens.

1 Geography and Geology
2 History
3 Interesting places
4 Historical population
5 External links
6 See also

[edit] Geography and Geology

The landscape is very hilly and mountainous. The highest peak is the Vigla (358 m) in the west-central part. Following the island's topography and geology, small creeks and seasonal streams flow through steep valleys of the southern and northeastern part. The western and northern part of the island feature smooth hills and shallow valleys. Sandy beaches are restricted to the southern shore of the island, except for a bay in the northern part called Vayionia.

Island of Poros

The geology of the island comprises Mesozoic to Cenozoic sedimentary rocks (limestone, and Flysch-type sandstone) and ophiolites, as well as Neogene volcanic rocks on Sferia. The island is tectonically dissected and part of a Tertiary tectonic melange. There are karstic sinkholes in the island's central limestone massif, and limestone caves with stalactites. Visible marine fossils are mainly found in the limestone, no occurrences of precious stones or ore deposits are known.

[edit] History

The ancient town of Kalaureia was the seat of the maritime Amphictyony, which was set up in the 7th century BC and was a league of city-states (Poros, Athens, Prassiai, Aegina, Epidaurus, Hermione, Troizene, Nauplion and Orchomenos) resolving political and religious issues of its members (analogous to modern international organizations). After the dissolution of the Amphictyony, Poseidon's Temple continued to be a place of worship.

In Byzantine times, Poros and other islands were often raided by pirates.

During the Ottoman occupation Poros remained independent, helping however, neighbouring islands after the breakout of the Greek War of Independence.

[edit] Interesting places

The picturesque town of Poros with its beautiful neoclassical buildings is built amphitheatrically on the slopes of a hill. Its most famous landmark is a clock tower, built in 1927.

The Archaeological Museum at Korizis Square houses findings from the Sanctuary of Poseidon, from ancient Troizene, and from other archaeological sites nearby.

In the northern part of the island there are the remains of the Sanctuary of Poseidon, the centre of the Kalaureian amphictyony. The exact date it was built is not known, although researchers estimate it to have been around 520 BC. The dimensions of the temple, which is of the Doric order, are 27.4×14.4 m. There are six columns on each short side and twelve on each long side. It was here that Demosthenes, the famous orator, poisoned himself with hemlock in 322 BC fleeing from the Macedonian Governor Antipatros.

A prestigious Hellenic naval academy is situated on Poros, which also was the site of the first naval shipyard in modern Greece, established during the Greek war of independence from the Ottoman empire, in 1827.

[edit] Historical population

Year	Communal population	Change	Municipal and Island population	Density
1981	3,929	-	-	-
1991	3,273	-656/-16.7%	3,570	115.16/km²

[edit] External links

	Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Poros

There are no boundaries in Poros but the nearest municipality is Troizina.

[edit] See also

List of municipalities of Attica, including the Saronic

*Municipalities and communities* of the Piraeus Prefecture**
Aegina • Agios Ioannis Rentis • Ampelakia • Drapetsona • Hydra • Keratsini • Korydallos • Kythera • Methana • Nikaia • Perama • Piraeus • Poros • Salamis • Spetses • Troizina
Agkistri • Antikythera