Angistri

Agistri, also Angistri or Agkistri ( Greek: Αγκίστρι , English: " fishing hook"), is a small populated island and municipality in the Saronic Gulf in the Islands regional unit, Greece.

Settlements

There are only three settlements on Agistri - Milos (Megalochori), Skala and Limenaria. Milos (pop. 566) is the main village where the majority of the Greek population of the island lives. Skala (pop. 448) is a twenty-minute walk from Milos along the coastal road. Skala is where most of the tourist facilities and hotels are. Limenaria (pop. 128) is a very small village on the other side of the island with very little tourism. The island's population is 1,142 inhabitants according to the 2011 Greek census. Its land area is .

History

The island was settled by Arvanites likely starting in the late 17th century.Jochalas, Titos P. (1971): Über die Einwanderung der Albaner in Griechenland: Eine zusammenfassene Betrachtung On the immigration of Albanians to Greece: A summary" München: Trofenik. pg. 89-106 ''On Salamis, the Albanians are mentioned for the first time in 1674 and it would seem that they continued on to the neighbouring island of Anggistri somewhat later.'' The community still inhabits the island. The Arvinite name for the island is "Ngjistër/Ngjistri"

Geography

Agistri is a pine-covered island in the Saronic Islands group.

Agistri is very close to the larger Saronic island of Aegina. The island can be reached from Aegina by a number of boats in just ten minutes. These boats include the Agistri Express and a number of small "water taxis". The island is also an hour's boat ride from the large Athenian port of Piraeus.

Flora and fauna

Agistri is home to a wide variety of plants such as wild cyclamen, thyme, caper bushes, and thistles. The center of the island is covered in Pine forest. It hosts a population of chukar partridges. The rocky eastern coast is used as a breeding place by swifts. Noteworthy is a population of peafowls, which have been introduced to the island and since become feral.

Local economies

Agistri's primary industry is tourism. Both in Skala and Megalochori there are numerous hotels and restaurants. Local transport includes a bus and taxis. Popular beaches are Aponissos and Dragonera on the western coast, the beaches of Megalochori and Skala in the north, Mariza in the south, and Skliri and Halikiada in the east. Halikiada is popular for naturism. The island also has a long history of free camping, though it is no longer allowed to erect tents in the forest due to fire hazard. Agriculture also forms part of the island's economy.

On 18 September 2015, Wall Street investor Brian Kelly announced he would be investing in the Nxt-based platform Drachmae, which has as its aim the revitalisation of the local economy of the Greek Island Agistri.

Gallery

File:Path at Mareza.JPG, Pine forest with hiking trail
File:Mareza beach,Angistri.JPG, Near Mariza beach at the south eastern coast
File:Bay on the eastern coast of Agistri island.jpg, Bay at the western coast
File:Panoramic_skala_port.JPG, Panoramic image of the beach and harbor of Skala
File:20090517_Limenaria_Angistri_island_Greece.jpg, Village Limenaria
File:Fishing boat and nets at Megalochori, Agkistri Island, Greece.jpg, Fishing boat and nets at Megalochori
File:BlogJordan Agii-Anargyri Skala-Agistri Greece.jpg, The Church of Agioi Anargyroi, Skala
File:Greek island Agistri, seen from Aegina.jpg, View from Aegina
File:20090517 map sign Angistri island Greece.jpg, Map of Agistri on a forest fire warning sign
File:Angistri_Rebhuhn.jpg, Chukar partridge
File:Peacock on Agistri island.jpg, Peacock
File:Kinotita Angistriou.png, Agkistri island map
File:Flag of Agistri Island.png, Agkistri flag

References

External links

Official websiteTourist websiteAgistriGreece.com Tourist Guide

{{Use dmy dates, date=August 2020

Saronic Islands
Municipalities of Attica
Populated places in Islands (regional unit)
Islands of Attica
Islands of Greece
Landforms of Islands (regional unit)
Arvanite settlements