Agistri

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

Agistri
Αγκίστρι
Beach of Skala
Beach of Skala
Agistri is located in Greece
Agistri
Agistri
Location within the region
Coordinates: 37.695°N 23.350°E / 37.695; 23.350
CountryGreece
Administrative regionAttica
Regional unitIslands
Government
 • MayorIoannis Athanasiou (Ind.)
Area
 • Municipality13.37 km2 (5.16 sq mi)
Population
 (2011)[1]
 • Municipality
1,142
 • Municipality density85/km2 (220/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+2 (EET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+3 (EEST)
Postal code
180 11
Area code(s)22970
Vehicle registrationZ
Websiteagistri-island.gr (EN)

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 13.367 km2 (5.161 sq mi).[2]

History

The island was settled by Arvanites likely starting in the late 17th century.[3] The community still inhabits the island.[4]

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. In 2011 it was recognized as a "green island" by the Prefecture of Piraeus and the National Technical University of Athens.[5]

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.[6] 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.[7]

  • Pine forest with hiking trail
    Pine forest with hiking trail
  • Near Mariza beach at the south eastern coast
    Near Mariza beach at the south eastern coast
  • Bay at the western coast
    Bay at the western coast
  • Panoramic image of the beach and harbor of Skala
    Panoramic image of the beach and harbor of Skala
  • Village Limenaria
    Village Limenaria
  • Fishing boat and nets at Megalochori
    Fishing boat and nets at Megalochori
  • The Church of Agioi Anargyroi, Skala
    The Church of Agioi Anargyroi, Skala
  • View from Aegina
    View from Aegina
  • Map of Agistri on a forest fire warning sign
    Map of Agistri on a forest fire warning sign
  • Chukar partridge
    Chukar partridge
  • Peacock
    Peacock
  • Agkistri island map
    Agkistri island map
  • Agkistri flag
    Agkistri flag

References
  1. "Απογραφή Πληθυσμού - Κατοικιών 2011. ΜΟΝΙΜΟΣ Πληθυσμός" (in Greek). Hellenic Statistical Authority.
  2. "Population & housing census 2001 (incl. area and average elevation)" (PDF) (in Greek). National Statistical Service of Greece. Archived from the original (PDF) on 21 September 2015.
  3. 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.
  4. Adamou E. & Drettas G. 2008, Slave, Le patrimoine plurilingue de la Grèce – Le nom des langues II, E. Adamou (éd.), BCILL 121, Leuven, Peeters, p.60. En ce qui concerne la répartition géographique , la population arvanite la plus dense habite au sud de la Grèce , en particulier dans les...ainsi que dans certaines îles du golfe Saronique et de la mer Egée ( Andros , Salamis , Agkistri , Spétsès , Poros , etc. )
  5. "«πράσινο νησί» το Αγκίστρι". aftodioikisi.gr.
  6. Achterberg, Adelaide (15 October 2019). "Why I went to a nude beach in Greece, and why you should too". thewhitonline.com. Retrieved 24 March 2020.
  7. Aitken, Roger. "Brian Kelly Capital Investing In First 'Fully Deployable' Digi Currency Ecosystem". Forbes. Retrieved 19 September 2015.
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