Cyclades
Islands
: Amorgos, Andros,
Folegandros, Ios,
Kea, Kythnos,
Milos, Mykonos,
Naxos, Paros
and Antiparos, Santorini,
Sifnos, Serifos,
Sikinos, Syros,
Tinos
Northern
Aegean Islands:
Chios, Ikaria,
Limnos, Lesvos,
Samos, Samothraki,
Thassos
Ionian
Islands:
Corfu (Kerkyra), Ithaki,
Kefalonia, Kythera,
Lefkada, Paxos,
Zakynthos
Saronic
Islands:
Aegina, Angistri,
Poros, Hydra,
Salamina, Spetsis
Sporades
Islands:
Alonissos, Skiathos,
Skopelos, Skyros
Dodecanese
Islands:
Astypalia, Halki,
Kalymnos, Karpathos,
Kassos, Kastellorizo,
Kos, Leros,
Nisyros, Patmos,
Rhodes, Symi,
Tilos
Other
Islands:
Crete, Evia,
Cyprus
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Cyclades Islands - Paros and Antiparos
In the Cyclades Islands,
you will find Paros Island. A quaint and picturesque island
that represents the best in Greek
culture, history and tradition.
The beautiful white washed cubes that form the homes,
buildings and businesses of the Cyclades are found on
Paro Island. Steeped in mythology, this gem in the Aegean
Sea is host to white beaches and dry hot summers. Most
accommodations include swimming pools, which are convenient
because you have to take transportation like a bus to
the shore. Poolside, you can also enjoy cooling beverages
and quiet conversation.
Mount Hagios Ilias is the highest point on the island
at 760 miles above sea level. Paro Island is a successful
agricultural hub. Farms produce grapes, oranges, figs,
tobacco and grains. Paros Island is known for its vineyards
and interesting wine.
Here you will find a beautiful white marble that was used
by sculptors as early as the sixth century B.C. The quarry
is still active on the Paro Island. In 1627, a marble
tablet was discovered on Paro Island. It is known ass
the Parian Chronicle and chronicles Greek history from
1581 to 299 B.C. It was broken in two pieces; the largest
of the two, which is also referred to as one of the Arundel
Marbles is located in a museum in Oxford, while the other
piece is on display on the island of Paros. The white
marble is the source of great wealth and wonderful culture
for Paros Island.
Along with the white sand
beaches, there is place known as the Valley of the
Butterflies. It is must on your trip to Paros! Thousands
of butterflies adorn flowers and trees. Other wildlife
surrounds the islands, which
are great for whale watching. Pilot whales are relatively
small at 20 feet long, but fin whales can reach 90 feet
in length. The incedible size of the fin whale should
logically be an indication that it would be easily seen;
however, whales move so rapidly through the water that
it is all but impossible to spy them. If you know what
to look for, you do have a chance. Fin whales travel in
six member pods. When they breech the surface, only the
very upper most part of their back surfaces by it's fin.
The fin is located on the last third of the whale. What
a sight to see if you do spy one!
The waters off the coast of Antiparos Island harbor undersea
treasures that are your reward when you go scuba diving
in the Aegean Sea. The beautiful indigo water gives way
to a rainbow of marine life. If you do not have a scuba
diving license, you can take a course on Antiparos Island.
Undersea reefs, canyons and drop-offs play host to crustaceans,
star fish, clams, squid, moray eels and octopi. Antiparos
Island is also the back-drop for undersea homes for coral,
sponge as well as beautifully colorful fish. You will
find scuba diving off the coast of Antiparos Island is
an adventure worth taking again and again.
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