Laganas

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Laganas
Λαγανάς
Location
Laganas (Greece)
Laganas
Coordinates 37°43′N 48°00′E / 37.717, 48Coordinates: 37°43′N 48°00′E / 37.717, 48
Time zone: EET/EEST (UTC+2/3)
Elevation (min-max): 0 - 10 m (0 - 33 ft)
Government
Country: Greece
Periphery: Ionian Islands
Prefecture: Zakynthos
Population statistics (as of 2001[1])
City Proper
 - Population: 5,894
 - Area:[2] 74.104 km² (29 sq mi)
 - Density: 80 /km² (206 /sq mi)
Codes
Website
www.laganas.gr

Laganas (Greek: Λαγανάς, alternatively called Lagana) is a town and a municipality located in the southern part of the Greek Ionian island of Zákynthos. Laganas is also located north of Keri and south-southeast of Volimes. It is a modern place on an old style Greek island, with a high proportion of nightclubs and bars. The main attraction of Lagana is the migration of the loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta). Each year during the months of June, July and August the turtles migrate to the Bay of Laganas to lay their eggs on the beach. This is a protected beach which is watched over by ecologists at all times. The beach is quite shallow even when you walk out for a long distance. Northeast of Laganas is the island's major airport first opened in the mid 20th century. Other industries includes agriculture and services, in agriculture, its main production are olives, fruits and vegetables and other crops.

The Municipality of Laganás has a land area of 74.104 km². Its municipal seat is the town of Pantokrátor (pop. 899). Its largest towns are Mouzáki (1,352), Lithakiá (1,185), Pantokrátor, Kalamáki (661), Laganás (543), and Kerí (487). It was created in the late-1990s under the Capodistrian Plan.

Contents

[edit] Nearest places

  • Mouzaki, north
  • Pantokratoas
  • Lithakia, south

[edit] Origin of the name

Its origin of the name comes from the word lagini meaning stamna in Greek (jug, pot in English) in which it stull has today in the area of Lithakia and Kalamaki in the area where the waves flows by the coastline. The sea, deep stops with a sand from the sands that is 7 km in length.

[edit] Municipal districts

  • Agala
    • Ai Giannis
    • Ampelos
    • Stimies
  • Kalamaki
    • Margaraiika or Margareiika
    • Pefkakia
  • Keri
    • Apelati
    • Limni Keri (Keri Lake)
    • Marathia
  • Lithakia
  • Mouzaki
  • Pantokratoras
    • Laganas

[edit] Population

Year Population Change Percent of the municipal district Percent of the municipality Municipal population Change Percent of the prefecture
1991 233 - - - 4,303 - -
2001 543 +310 or +133% 5,894 3.74% 9.21% 5,894 +1,491 or +34.65% 1.29%

[edit] Geography

The area are surrounded by the plain of Zakynthos, the plain dominates the eastern portion and the mountains in the western portion. Forests are not common and are rarely founded especially in the plain.

[edit] Transportation

Laganas is linked with the GR-35 (Zakynthos - Laganas) and is also the southernmost terminus, it rarely ends further south in Keri and the road linking to the northern part of the island including Volimes.

[edit] History

Laganas was ruled by the Venetians until the Napoleonic Wars, it was handed to the French hands until the British invasion. During the French Rule, it became Russian and Turkish with the autonomous Septinsular Republic. Laganas as well as the rest of the Ionian Islands remained British by the subdivision, the United States of the Ionian Islands until 1864 when it finally ceded to Greece. After World War II and the Greek Civil War, its buildings were rebuilt. Laganas was trembled by the terrible earthquake on August 1953 that destroyed and leveled almost the entire village and the area. It took until the late-1950s and 1960 to rebuilt everything and at the time connected with asphalt. Laganas built a nearby airport that serves the entire island. A national park was established in the protection of the turtles. More pavement was accessed in the late 20th century. The island is now better known as a party haven for young brits, boasting over 100 drinking venues, all confined in a small area.

[edit] Nightlife and reputation

Laganas is a popular club 18-30's destination. Laganas is basically a long strip that mainly consists of bars, pubs, nightclubs, restaurants and tourist shops. From the months of may to mid september you'll see the island packed with thousands of brits, mainly in the 18-30's margin who have come to get drunk and party. You'll see bar crawls consisting of a hundered people and more at a time roaming down the strip each night, and crude behaviour is regular. Popular clubs and bars include Zeros bar, Rescues, Wahikis, Wakkabout, cocktails and dreams, and Cherry bay which leads out on to the beach. There is over a hundred venues in total, all packed on to one long strip.

[edit] The beach

The beach is located at the bottom of the strip and is very long. It is laced with yet more bars and is known to be quite dirty, due to the young brits who bring their after parties to the beach.

There are no watersports, due to protection of the famous turtles, but you can take motor boat rides and pedalos out there. For 30 euros you get an hour on a motor boat, which you can drive yourself, and there is no deposit or any health and safety talk before hand.

[edit] Controversy

Laganas has been slammed for its rowdy reputation, and lack of any law out there. People generally do what they like. The police carry guns and weapons around, and are only really seen when fights need breaking up. They are known to be very violent and hostile towards the young brits.

Young gypsie children are out in force on most nights, and pick pocket the tourists. They have been trained to do this by their parents.

[edit] Other

Laganas has a lyceum (middle school) a gymnasium (secondary school), a few churches, and a square (plateia).

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

North: Artemissi
West: Ionian Sea
 Laganas East: Zakynthos and the Ionian Sea
South: Laganas Gulf and the Ionian Sea
v • d • e
Municipalities of the Zakynthos Prefecture
Alykes • Arkadion • Artemisia • Elatia • Laganas • Zakynthos
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