Diapontia Islands

Diapontia Islands

Native name: Διαπόντια Νησιά
Othoni (back), Mathraki (left) and Diakopo (front right) as seen from northwest Corfu
Diapontia Islands Location of Diapontia Islands
Geography
Location	Greece
Coordinates	39°50′N 19°30′E / 39.84°N 19.50°E / 39.84; 19.50Coordinates: 39°50′N 19°30′E / 39.84°N 19.50°E / 39.84; 19.50
Archipelago	Ionian sea
Total islands	12 (+Sazan)
Area	17.65 km2 (6.81 sq mi)
Highest elevation	393 m (1289 ft)
Highest point	Imerovigli, Othoni
Administration
Greece
Region	Ionian Islands
Regional unit	Corfu
Municipality	Municipality of Central Corfu and Diapontia Islands
Capital	Othoni
Demonym	Diapontian, Diapontic
Demographics
Population	1217 (2011)
Additional information
Postal code	49100
Vehicle registration	KY
Official website	www.diapontia.gr

The Diapontia Islands or Diapontian Islands (Greek: Διαπόντια Νησιά, romanized: Diapontia Νisia), also known as Othonoi Islands (Greek: Νήσοι Οθωνοί, romanized: Νisoi Othonoi)^[1] are a Greek island group in the Ionian Sea. They are located the northwest of Corfu. The main and the only inhabited islands of the archipelago are Othoni, Ereikoussa and Mathraki. The complex includes also the islets and rocks of Diakopo, Diaplo, Karavi, Kastrino, Leipso, Ostrako, Plaka, Plateia and Tracheia. Sazan, located in southern Albania, was historically considered a part of the Diapontia islands.^{[2][3] [4][5]}

The largest island is Othoni, with an area of 10.8 km² while the most populated is Ereikoussa with 496 inhabitants according to the 2011 census. The islands are the westernmost point in Greece and administratively belong to Corfu regional unit. The islands today are a tranquil place for holidays.^[6]

Geography[]

The archipelago of Diapontia consists of 12 islands and islets (considering also the Albanian island Sazan).

Name in English	Name in Greek	Country
Othonoi	Οθωνοί (Othonoi)	Greece
Ereikoussa	Ερεικούσσα (Ereikoussa)	Greece
Kastrino (islet)	Καστρινό (Kastrino)	Greece
Ostrako (islet)	Όστρακο (Ostrako)	Greece
Mathraki	Μαθράκι (Mathraki)	Greece
Diakopo (islet)	Διάκοπο (Diakopo)	Greece
Diaplo (islet)	Διάπλο (Diaplo)	Greece
Karavi (islet)	Καράβι (Karavi)	Greece
Lipso (islet)	Λειψώ (Leipso)	Greece
Plaka (islet)	Πλάκα (Plaka)	Greece
Trachia (islet)	Τραχειά (Tracheia)	Greece
Sazan	Σάσων (Sason)	Albania

Othoni[]

Lighthouse in Othoni

Ammos, Othonoi

Othonoi (Greek: Οθωνοί, Italian: Fanò or Othoni) is the westernmost point of Greece and the largest of the Diapontia Islands. Othoni is divided into two regions which are Ano Panta (Greek: Άνω πάντα) and Kato Panta (Greek: Κάτω πάντα). There are more than 20 settlements. In the 19th century the island was the capital of the Diapontia Islands municipality, which also included Ereikoussa and Mathraki. Othoni is about 47 nautical miles from Santa Maria di Leuca cape, Italy.^[7] In Akro Kastri is an active 19th century lighthouse.

Ereikoussa[]

Ereikoussa (Greek: Ερείκουσσα, Italian: Merlera) is the most populated island of Diapontia. It is the northernmost island in the group, almost equidistant from Corfu to the southeast, Mathraki to the southwest, and Othonoi to the west. The only town on the island, also named Ereikoussa, had a population of 496 at the 2011 census. Its land area is 3.65 square kilometres (1 sq mi), while the municipal unit has an area of 4.449 km².^[8] The island is rich in green forests, filled with cypress, and olive trees. It has two beaches, Porto (Πόρτο) and Braghini (Μπραγκίνι); the names are of Italian origin, and date back to the period of Venetian rule. Braghini is rarely visited because it is further away from the main part of the island.

Mathraki[]

Mathraki (Greek: Μαθράκι, older form: Μαθράκιον) municipal unit has an area of 3.532 km² and population of 329 (2011).^[8] Mathraki is a 45-minute boat ride off the coast of Corfu (4 NM from Cape Arilas). It has three restaurants that double as general stores, villas and "rooms to let". Mathraki is a quiet island that manages to stay clear of tourists except for the occasional hikers that brave the rocky coastline. The municipal unit includes the three nearby islets Diakopo, Diaplo and Tracheia.

Sazan[]

Sazan seen from the Port of Vlorë

Sazan is a small (5.7 km²), now uninhabited, island off the coast of southwest Albania. In 1864 the island was ceded to Greece with the rest of the Ionian Islands as part of Diapontia islands, but not occupied, coming under de facto Ottoman control. It was not until the First Balkan War in 1912 that Greece landed soldiers on the island and formally claimed it. After the end of the Second Balkan War in 1913, Italy and Austria-Hungary pressed Greece to evacuate the southern part of modern Albania. Finding the island too unimportant to risk a war with Italy, Greek troops withdrew.^[2][3]

History[]

At the beginning of the second millennium, Diapontia islands were conquered alternatively by the Franks (the 11th century) and the Venetians (12th century), and often attacked by pirates of Barbary and Algeria. From the end of 1383 until 1386 the domination of Corfu brought by Charles III of Naples. In his letter he stated that on April 19, 1383 granted the usufruct of Othoni Ereikoussa, Mathraki, Diapolo and Vido, the knight Theodore Skaliti as fief.^[9]:29 In 1537, the Turkish fleet under the command of Greek origin pirate and admiral Hayreddin Barbarossa massacred the inhabitants of Othoni island after a long battle. In Stavros district at an altitude of 217 m. a white stone cross exists until today to commemorate that event.^[9]:30

Cross on Kalodiki hill, Stavros, Othoni

The last settlers of Othoni apparently came from Paxos and Ioannina, Parga and the region of Epirus. Dated after the Battle of Nafpaktos in 1571, when the Turkish fleet was destroyed and the islanders began to move more safely. After the last movement, the residents of Othoni island colonized the two other small islands, Ereikoussa and Mathraki.^[9]:30 In 1815, the English conquered Othonoi and as is said, sent to the island sick soldiers to recover because of the good climate that prevailed. The Treaty signed on March 29, 1864 between the three powers (England, France, Russia) and the Kingdom of Greece, the Ionian Islands -and Diapontia islands- passed definitively to Greek sovereignty on 21 May. On October 5, 1864, the Ionian Parliament realized the purpose of the convocation solemnly acting union with Greece as one and indivisible state under king, George I of Greece.^[9]:25–30 From 1869 until 1912 Othoni, Ereikousa and Mathraki formed the municipality of Dimos Diapontion with Othoni as capital.^[9]:31 In 1913, finding the island too unimportant to risk war with Italy, Greece evacuated Sazan.

Naval history[]

Diapontians achieved big naval and maritime history. A lot of men were involved in shipping (1880-1990). It is significant that there is no Diapontian family without a sailor. Also, many Diapontians were senior crews in Hellenic war ships. Main maritime occupations was sailor, boatswain, master or engineer of any class. There were also many ship owners as they had a large number of yachts and commercial steamships traveling to many Mediterranean ports.^[10] Unfortunately, within these decades of history that Diapontians wrote at sea, there were some victims because of several wrecks due to sloppiness and carelessness of those responsible in the last century. Today, there are plenty of fishing and speed boats owned by Diapontians in every island.^[9]:31[11]

Sinking of submarine Proteus[]

On 29 December 1940, the Greek submarine sank in the sea area of Othoni. The submarine had attacked an Italian convoy carrying ammunition to Vlorë. After sinking the steamer Sardegna, the submarine was rammed by the Italian torpedo boat Antares. The loss of the submarine was the first loss of the Greek Navy in World War II. A monument to honor the memory of the crew, was inaugurated in Othoni on June 15, 2015.^[12]

Mythology[]

According to mythology, in the ancient times, Othoni was the island of nymph Calypso, who lived in a large cave. Odysseus fell in love and remained like a prisoner there for seven years. Homer called thιs island Ogygia who wrote there was a strong scent of cypress on Ogygia island. Odysseus left the island by a raft and he sank on Scheria, the island of Corfu .^[9]:21–22 According to Hesychius, after the Trojan War, Elephenor, king of Avantes from Euboea fled to the island after the fall of Troy, to atone as he had killed his grandfather, Abas.^[9]:222

Diaspora[]

From the beginning of 60's many Diapontians decided to emigrate to USA, Canada and Germany due to unemployment in the Diapontia islands. There are over 300 Erikoussian families in New York. The Diapontians of North America had established their own societies and every island has its own one. In Montgomery, Alabama the house of one Othonian seaman called Alexandros Markou Kasimis was designated by the US authorities as a preservable monument as it seems that he was one of the first Greek immigrants in USA. There are plenty of Diapontians in Montgomery today. From the beginning of 20th century many Diapontians had emigrated to the Bronx. There are about 50 Othonian families living in Pennsylvania. Othonians of USA established in 1966 their own society called "Society of Calypso Island of Othoni Kerkyras". In 1977, renamed as "Othonian society of USA".^[9]:88

Transport[]

Diapontia are accessible by boat with services from Corfu port and Agios Stefanos Avliotes. They have heliports for emergencies. Asphalt roads are available on many parts of the islands which are extended to settlements. There is complete electrification and a telephone network with Internet access.

Sports[]

A.O Othoni, A.O Mathraki and A.O Ereikoussa were amateur football teams based on each island. During the 1970s and the 1980s the teams used to play against each other on fields in Chorio and Dafni settlemt of Othoni. There was a football team called "F.C Ereikousa" created by Greek-Americans in USA. In 2001, some Ereikoussians established in Corfu a football team called "Α.Ο ΕΡΕΙΚΟΥΣΑ" (A.S EREIKOUSA, former A.E ROPA) and they participate in Corfiot amateur football league. The team abolished some years later. In Othoni, there is one 5x5 football field and one basketball cort next to Agia Triada church.

Notable Diapontians[]

• Maria Aronis (born 1957), Greek-American Cardiothoracic surgeon
• Linda Katehi (born 1954), Greek-American engineer, sixth chancellor of the University of California, Davis
• Dale Katechis, American, owner of the Oskar Blues Brewery in Colorado.
• Anastasios Katechis, assistant professor in University of Athens.
• John Katechis (born 1992), murderer in 2009 of George Weber
• Spyros Katechis (1919-unknown), Greek-Egyptian military commander and spy during World war II.
• Christos Katechis, key partner in telecommunications matters in NASA mission Apollo 11.^[13]

Diapontia in literature[]

• Ionion akron. Greece in the narrow of Otranto (Greek: Ιόνιον άκρων. Η Ελλάδα στοστενό του Ότραντο) (ISBN 960-7062-99-X)
• Folklore mission to Diapontia islands, by Dimitrios Loukatos, 2012 (Greek: Λαογραφική αποστολή στα Διαπόντια νησιά) (ISBN 960-404-246-7)
• Ereikoussa, the extra garden and the continental shelf of Diapontia islands by Greek journalist, Georgios Lekakis, 2014 (Greek: Ερείκουσσα, ο επιπλέον ανθόκηπος και η υφαλοκρηπίδα των Διαποντίων νήσων) (ISBN 978-960-454-102-7)
• The Fiddler's daughter (Greek: Στο καλύβι του Αριά) by Dimitra Kapelouzou, 2004

Panoramic view of Arillas and the Diapontia islands

References[]