Poros trivia: 56 amazing facts about this Greek island!

Poros is a greek island located in the Saronic Gulf and it is separated form the Peloponese by a 200 metre wide sea channel!

So let’s find out some more trivia and facts about this island!

1. Poros is a small Greek island-pair in the southern part of the Saronic Gulf
2. About 58 km (36 mi) (31 nautical miles) south from Piraeus
3. And separated from the Peloponnese by a 200 m (656 ft) wide sea channel
4. With the town of Galatas on the mainland across the strait
5. Its surface area is about 31 square kilometres (12 sq mi)
6. It has 3,780 inhabitants
7. The ancient name of Poros was Pogon
8. Like other ports in the Saronic, it is a popular weekend destination for Athenian travellers
9. Poros consists of two islands
10. Sphairia, the southern part, which is of volcanic origin, where today’s city is located
11. And Kalaureia, also Kalavria or Calauria (meaning ‘gentle breeze’), the northern and largest part
12. A bridge connects the two islands over a narrow strait
13. Poros is an island with rich vegetation
14. Much of the northern and far eastern/western sides of the island are bushy
15. Whereas large areas of old pine forest are found in the south and center of the island
16. It has a good road network and adequate tourist infrastructure
17. Which makes it a popular resort for short holidays
18. Though possessing no airport, Poros is easily accessible from Athens via ferry or hydrofoil
19. One can reach the island by car or bus from the adjacent mainland at Galatas
20. There is local bus service on the island from Poros harbor to the nearby towns of Neorio and Monastiri
21. The land area of the municipality (which includes the islands and part of the adjacent Peloponnese coast) is 49.582 square kilometres (19.144 sq mi)
22. The landscape is very hilly and mountainous
23. The highest peak is the Vigla (358 m) in the west-central part
24. Following the island’s topography and geology, small creeks and seasonal streams flow through steep valleys of the southern and northeastern part
25. The western and northern part of the island feature smooth hills and shallow valleys
26. Sandy beaches are restricted to the southern shore of the island
27. Except for a bay in the northern part called Vayionia
28. The geology of the island comprises Mesozoic to Cenozoic sedimentary rocks (limestone, and Flysch-type sandstone) and ophiolites
29. As well as Neogene volcanic rocks on Sferia
30. The island is tectonically dissected and part of a Tertiary tectonic mélange
31. There are karstic sinkholes in the island’s central limestone massif, and limestone caves with stalactites
32. Visible marine fossils are mainly found in the limestone
33. No occurrences of precious stones or ore deposits are known
34. The town of Poros, with its neoclassical edifices, is built amphitheatrically on the slopes of a hill
35. Its most famous landmark is a clock tower, built in 1927
36. The Archaeological Museum of Poros, at Korizis Square, houses findings from the Sanctuary of Poseidon, from ancient Troizen
37. And from other archaeological sites nearby
38. In the northern part of the island are the remains of the Sanctuary of Poseidon, the centre of the Kalaureian amphictyony
39. The exact date it was built is not known
40. Although researchers estimate it to have been around 520 BC
41. The dimensions of the temple, which is of the Doric order, are 27.4×14.4 m
42. There are six columns on each short side and twelve on each long side
43. It was here that Demosthenes, the famous orator, poisoned himself with hemlock in 322 BC fleeing from the Macedonian Governor Antipatros
44. Poros was the site of the first naval base in modern Greece
45. Established in 1827 during the Greek War of Independence
46. Most of the activities of Poros naval base were moved to Salamis Naval Base in 1881
47. The site is still used today by the Hellenic Navy as a training centre for naval personnel
48. Bourtzi castle, it was built by von Heideck at around 1828
49. At the place where an old church of St. Constantine had stood
50. The island was given to the Poros monastery from 1770 on by Antonios Serfos
51. The stand off between Hydra island and Capodistrias gave the cause for severe fight here on 1831
52. Poros Shell Museum. Founded in 2006, a permanent exhibition of Shells from the Greek Seas is displayed at the Chatzopouleios Library
53. The Holy Monastery of Zoodochos Pigi, founded in 1720 AD is located 4 km east of the main city of Poros island is built on the slope of a pine forest
54. In 1814, a group of monks from Mount Athos, took refuge in this Monastery
55. A few years later, these monks founded the Zoodochos Pigi Monastery at Longovarda in this island of Paros
56. Katholiko is a basilica with a dome and a tower like belfry being the main church of the monastery