Zakynthos, Greek Island, Greece

'''Zak nthos''' , the third largest of the Ionian Islands, covers an area of 410 square kilometers and its coastline is roughly 123 kilometers in length. The island is named after Zacynthus, son of a legendary Arcadian chief Dardanus.

It has varied terrain with fertile plains in the southeastern part and mountainous terrain with steep cliffs along the coasts in the western part.

The mild, Mediterranean climate and the plentiful winter rainfall present the island with dense vegetation. The principle products are olive oil, currants, grapes and citrus fruit.

The capital, which has the same name as the prefecture, is the town of Zakynthos; apart from the official name it is also called Chora. According to the 2001 census, the island has a population of 38,957 inhabitants.

The island has only one airport (on former GR-35) in its southwest and further southwest is the National Marine Park of Zakynthos where loggerhead turtles are found in the southern portion of the island (the bay of Laganas).

The port of Zakynthos has a ferry connecting to the ports of Kyllini and Argostoli.

This on earth paradise was suffered by the earthquakes in 1953 which have been destroyed almost everything on the island.These were not the only earthquakes in area, but the most dramatic ones in the early history.

Mainly 3 buildings were staying in place after the disaster, St. Dionysios church, The national bank building, St. Nikolas (tou Molou). And some more in island witout been completely destroyed.

Mining is also common on the island, where a small mountain founded in Zakynthos' west side was mined during the 1990s and now is used up which. Today, mining still continues, but now two quarries on the mountain range in the western part of the island.