Zakynthos Greece, or Zante island a Greek Island

Zakynthos island, the southernmost of Greece's Ionian Islands is known for Zante currants and flowers. First mentioned by Homer, this island is the site of much Byzantine and medieval history. Home of the National Marine Park to protect the endangered loggerhead turtle.

Third largest and southernmost of the Greek Ionian Islands, Zakynthos Greece has 123 km of coastline. This Greek island, sometimes called Zante Greece, has a varied terrain beginning with the fertile plains of the southeast and moving to the mountainous west coast with its steep cliffs, with dramatic, carved out natural arches and numerous sea caves. Pine covered mountains in the north roll into the gentle, lush, richly planted central regions. To the north, east and south are beaches, with many campgrounds.
The mild Mediterranean climate combined with plentiful rainfall means there is plenty of dense vegetation on Zakynthos island in Greece. Olives, grapes, citrus fruits and almonds are all cultivated, but the best known crop may be the Zante currants. These currants are a dried form of a small, seedless grape native to this island. Zakynthos island is also known for flowers. Mounds of blossoms have long filled the warm air with perfumes wafting on breezes, delighting visitors since time immemorial.
Zakynthos Greece or Zante Greece has been inhabited since Neolithic times, as archaeological digs have been discovering and uncovering stone age sites. Its geography has made this island a crossroads for many cultures. Zakynthos island's first historical mention is in Homer's The Iliad and again in The Odyssey. Homer informs us that the inhabitants, at the time he was writing, were the son of the King of Troy and his followers. They probably first came to the island around 1600 BC.

Zakynthos island was Christianized in 34 AD by either Mary Magdalene or St. Beatrice, according to legend.
Zakynthos Greece has been built, rebuilt and built upon. During the Byzantine Period, pirates raided these shores. Then, during the Crusades, Zakynthos island suffered hardships, being captured and recaptured by various factions. Then, in 1953, many of the old structures collapsed during a massive earthquake. What icons and frescos survived have been collected, salvaged, and are on display in the Byzantine Museum in Zakinthos island.
Human's history is not the only important history of this island. Zakinthos Greece is home to loggerhead turtles. The triangular shaped island bears two mountains which project far into the sea, creating the huge, sheltered Bay of Laganas. Another bay, Geraka, is nearby. These beaches are the breeding grounds of the endangered turtle species. In June, and again in August, female turtles come ashore and lay eggs, up to 1000 of them, at night. The eggs are buried in the sand to incubate in the warmth for 55 days. Baby turtles hatch and return to the sea. Then, these same turtles, the females, will return 20 to 30 years later, to the exact same beach, to lay their eggs.
The loggerhead turtles have become an endangered species because of human behavior. Many of the human visitors pull deck chairs onto the beaches and sunbathe atop the incubating eggs. Pollution has also caused much of the population decline of this species. And so the Greek government has established the National Marine Park of Zakynthos or Zakinthos island in the beautiful turquoise waters of the Bay of Laganas to protect the habitat of this important long-time Zakynthos Greece resident. So upon you visit to Greece don't forget to visit Zakynthos or Zzakinthos or Zante land Greece

Here are also a couple of more travel tips which can help you out while visiting Greece.

About the Author: Written by S. Pappas greekinfo @ gmail.com
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