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Samos lies in the southeastern part of the Aegean Sea and specifically in the most eastern part of the Ikarian Sea, to the south of Chios and to the north of the Dodacanese.It is very close to the Turkish coast, from which the closest point is approximately 1 mile apart (the strait of Samos or the strait of Mykali).The total length of its coast is 159,3km and it is the 8th of the largest Aegean islands. Samos belongs administrative to Samos prefecture, together with the islands Ikaria and Fourni. Samos prefecture, together the prefectures of Lesvos and Chios constitute the geographical part of the Northern Aegean. The distance between Samos and Piraeus is 176 miles. Up until 1998 there were 2 towns and 33 villages on the island of Samos. Since then, it has been a unification of the villages which has ended up comprising the formation of 4 Municipalities:
1. Municipality of Vathi, which incorporated 9 villages on the North-East of Samos, and it is 125.2 sq.km in extent with a population of 11.997. 2. Municipality of Karlovasi (total extent: 100.3 sq.km, population: 8.728) which incorporated 10 villages on the North-West of Samos. 3. Municipality of Pythagorio (total extent: 164.7 sq.km, population: 9.455) which incorporated 11 villages on the South-East of Samos. 4. Municipality of Marathokampos (total extent: 87.3 sq.km, population: 2.859) which incorporated 5 villages on the South-East of Samos.
The economy of the island, is based mainly on agriculture. The island produces a sweet wine that is very popular in the national markets of the European Union. Other products that Samos produces include tobacco -- very good quality -- and the famous oil products. Finally, Samian wood gives work to many lumbermen. The island has two principal ports, Karlovassi and Samos (Vathy), which serve the tourist industry (during summer) and the needs of commerce for the whole island (throughout the year).
Every year, thousands of tourists visit Samos, not only for the endless beaches and the clear water bays but also because they have the opportunity to visit the monuments which exist all over the island and prove its glamour through the centuries. SamosTown (Vathy) is the first place a tourist should visit. It is the capital of the island. In the past, the village of Chora used to be the capital. In Vathy, there is the Byzantine Museum, which houses a lot of rare and historically valuable exhibits, such as the famous "Koyros". Another remarkable place in Vathy is Pythagoras Square with the famous marble Lion, which was constructed in 1930. Pythagorio is another attractive place. In this town, the traveller can see the main characteristics of a traditional Samian town. The visitor can walk along the narrow streets and admire the "typical" architecture of the houses. Samos offers a nice opportunity for relaxing, and at the same time it also offers a superb night life. There are hundrends of bars and clubs all over the island. One of the most beautiful and traditional villages is Kokkari. This village, apart from being the best spot for windsurfers, also has nice hotels, bars and tavernas with traditional food and fresh fish. A little further on from Kokkari, the visitor can find two beaches "Tsamadou" and "Lemonakia". These beaches are famous for the picturisque seascape and the strong blue color of the sea. Near Pythagorio (about 3km), there is one of the Seven Wonders of the ancient world, the Eupalinion Tunnel. In 460 BC, an architect from Megara "Eupalinus" planned and constucted a big, long tunnel, proposing to bring water through a sub-tunnel (length 1350m.) from the source to the town of Pythagorio. The extraordinary fact about this construction, is that the Tunnel passes from the top of the hill (from the spot of the source), going under the earth as deep as 65m and it ends at the water tank inside the town of the Pythagorio. Even today, the water still flows the same way. Karlovassi is the most important place for the economy of the island. The central market is here. New Karlovassiis home to all the public services, including schools as well as the the biggest hotels on Samos. The tourists can admire the traditional style of the town and the night life in cosy bars and pubs. One of the most brilliant temples of ancient Hellas, the Temple of Hera, was built on Samos. The Temple was dedicated to the Godess Hera, because it was believed that she (mother of gods) was born there. The Temple was constructed several times but it took its final shape thanks to the two Samian architects Ricos and Theodoro. This Temple is a mixture of Doric and Ionic styles. Unfortunately, today, only one column remains. Around the column there are a lot of monuments that remind us of the glorious periods of Hellenic antiquity As has already been mentioned, Samos is one of the most important Hellenic islands. The monuments and the museums which bear witness to the history of the island and Hellas, together with the clean beaches, the traditional villages, the monasteries and the churches, not to mention the night life, comprise an island that one cannot afford not to visit.
Temperature variations throughout the year, as well as during a day are very limited and minimum temperatures very rarely fall under the freezing point. The absolutely maximum and absolutely minimum temperatures ever recorded at the Samian Meteorological Station were 38,2ï C and -4,3 ï C respectively. Because of the many and high mountains, there is a lot of rainfall in Samos. The average rainfall is 918,4 mm and the month with the most of it is December when 23 % of the rainfall is recorded. The most rainy season is of course winter, with 60,1 % of total rainfall, while summer is almost completely dry with a mere 4,1 % of total rainfall. The rest of rain falls in early spring and in late fall. From mid April and onwards until mid October the rainfalls are rare and many times hazardous for agriculture, especially in springtime. North wind is the prevailing wind in Samos and during summer it blows almost constantly cooling the island. South winds, that carry most of the rain, blow mainly during the winter period along with all sorts of other winds. As the Northern winds or "meltemia" as the local call them, blow during the summer, they climb on the northern slops of the island, slow and steadily, leaving their moisture on them. When they pass the mountains, dry and furious, they pour down to the Southern side and that 's why this side is dryer that the Northern one and more affected by the winds, thus giving the atmosphere, many times, a crystal clarity. Sunshine on the island is one of the longest in Greece, since, for a semester and possibly more, during the summer period, there is hardly a cloud in the sky.
The Fauna and Flora of the island of Samos (Source: The Aegean Museum of Natural History, the Palaeontological Museum of Samos, situated in Mytilinii, and the Konstantinos & Maria Zimalis Foundation) The island of Samos is green-clad, with dense vegetation and stands out among all the other Aegean islands. The trees predominating here are the Course Pine-trees, Cypress trees, Oak trees, holm-oaks, Locust-trees, Chestnut-trees and at heights over 600 metres, you come across Black Pines. The shrubs covering the island include the lentisk, arbutus, myrtle, holm-oak, wild quince-tree, heather, almond-leaved pear, thyme and origan. Near the brooks and streamlets grow riverside forests of Plane-trees, while along the river banks the visitor can see oleanders and wickers. Rare plant species grow on both the mountains of Samos. These include: Silene samia, Muscari kerkis, Sedum samium, Dianthus zonatuw, Campanula lyrata, Anthemis samia, Anthemis Smyrnea, Anthemis rosea and Erodium sibthorpianum. Mount Kerkis is the highest mountain (1.444 m.) on the island and is home to some of the rarest birds of pray to be found in the country, including the Golden Eagle, the Royal Eagle, the Eagle hawk, the Snake eagle and the Horn-owl. At the foot of the north-western slopes of Mount Kerkis lies the Small and Large Seitani, an area of particular ecological importance, which has been entered into the list of habitats included in the corine programme. The caves of the area, as well as its sandy beaches are refuge for the rarest animals in Europe, the Mediterranean seal, monacous monacous and the sea turtle, caretta caretta. Amongst the species visiting the wetlands of Aliki and Glyfada are the flamingo, little erget, purple heron, terns, ruddy shelduck, the water-hen, the kingfisher, cetti's warbler and the eleonora's falcon. In spring, the island’s dense vegetation is home to the blackbird, turtle-dove, greenfinch, magpie, goldfinch, hoopoe, nightingale and other birds. Species of reptiles also survive in large numbers. Amongst these are 11 types of lizard, 2 types of tortoise, the small crocodile, the rare chameleon and others. On Samos, there also exist 10 types of poisonous snake, such as the Ottoman viper, the water-snake, the asp and others. One of the predominant mammals to be found on the island of Samos is the jackal. Other species include the fox, beech marten, brown hare and the hedgehog. Finally, in the marine area around Samos, you can find the dolphin, bottle-nosed dolphin, the Black dolphin and the Ash-coloured dolphin.
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