Christiana Islands

Christiana Islands
Askania (left) and Christiani (right)
Waters	Aegean Sea
archipelago	Cyclades
Geographical location	36 ° 14 '  N , 25 ° 12'  E Coordinates: 36 ° 14 '  N , 25 ° 12'  E
Number of islands	3
Main island	Christiani (Χριστιανή)
Total land area	1.45 km²
Residents	uninhabited

The uninhabited Greek Christiana Islands ( Greek Χριστιανά ( n. Pl. )) Consist of three rock islands and a few rocks in the southern Aegean. Administratively, the Christiana Islands belong to the municipality of Thira, which is usually called Santorini , in the South Aegean region (Περιφέρεια Νότιου Αιγαίου).

geography

The rock islands are about 23 km southwest of Santorini. In size from northwest to southeast Christiani , Askania and Eschati .

 Map with all coordinates: OSM | WikiMap

The individual islands

Surname	Greek name	Area km²	height	location
Christiani	Χριστιανή ( f. Sg. )	1.188	285	36 ° 14 '57 "  N , 25 ° 12' 11"  E
Askania	Ασκανιά ( f. Sg. )	0.257	160	36 ° 14 ′ 2 "  N , 25 ° 12 ′ 48"  E
Eschati	Εσχάτη ( f. Sg. )	0.001	15th	36 ° 13 '12 "  N , 25 ° 13' 47"  E

geology

The Christiana Islands are of volcanic origin and lie like Methana , Milos and Nisyros on the Aegean arch . They represent the southwestern end of a weak zone around the volcanic island of Santorini , which runs northeast over Palea Kameni and Nea Kameni to the underwater volcano Columbos .

history

Christiani was already settled during the Bronze Age. This is indicated by the round building structures and extensive ceramic finds from the Cycladic culture. Some finds were assigned to the Keros-Syros culture (FK II). Others could close the gap after the termination of the settlement continuity at the end of the Kastri culture (FK III) around 2200 BC. Close to the Middle Cycladic Phylakopi culture . In the museum of Thira on Santorini some finds are exhibited.

The only testimony of today's human civilization is the small chapel "Agios Vasilios" in the north of Christiani.

nature

Strong winds occurring all year round in combination with rough seas influence the landscape of the volcanic islands. Due to their remote location and surrounded by the deep sea, the islands are an important resting place for migratory birds and breeding grounds for seabirds, and represent an important terrestrial ecosystem.

flora

The vegetation of the coastal region is determined by obligatory halophytes that are adapted to the salt location of the coastal region. In the interior of the larger islands, representatives of Phrygana such as thorn-beaver- nelle ( Sarcopoterium spinosum ), and knapweed ( Centaurea raphanina ssp. Mixta ) as well as the winds Convolvulus pentapetaloides and hardwoods dominate the landscape.

fauna

In addition to Aegean bare fingers ( Mesodactylus kotschyi ), there is a population of the European cat snake ( Telescopus fallax ) on the islands .

The islands are breeding grounds for Eleanor's falcons .

natural reserve

Together with other uninhabited rock islands, the Christiana Islands in the southern Aegean make up the Natura 2000 area GR 4210011 Vrachonisia Egeou: Velopoula, Falkonera, Ananes, Christiana, Paxia, Fteno, Makra, Astakidonisia, Syrna Gyro Nisia, Syrna Gyro Nisia , Βαολλλ υατοαυαυτοποπ , Ανάνες, Χριστιανά, Παχειά, Φτενό, Μακρά, Αστακιδονήσια, Σύρνα-Γύρω νησιά). and are also classified as Special Protection Area GR4220022 Nisoi Christiana and Important Bird Area GR 158 Christiana Islets (Νησίδες Χριστιανά).

Picture gallery

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  Christiani (Χριστιανή)

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  Askania (Ασκανιά)

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  Eschati (Εσχάτη)

Individual evidence

1. ^ Charles Arnold (ed.): The islands of the Mediterranean . A unique and complete overview. 2nd Edition. marebuchverlag, Hamburg 2008, ISBN 978-3-86648-096-4 .
2. ↑ chart, ( BSH ), G1091_9, Nisides Christiana , 1: 50.000., 2001
3. ↑ Area estimated from the satellite image (NASA World Wind)
4. ^ Ferdinand Fouqué, Alexander R. McBirney: Santorini and Its Eruptions . JHU Press, 1998, ISBN 0-8018-5614-0 , p. 495 .
5. ↑ Cyprian Broodbank: At Iceland Archeology of the Early Cyclades . Cambridge University Press, 2002, ISBN 0-521-52844-5 , pp. 332 . (English)
6. ↑ Eva Alram-Stern: The Aegean Early Period. 2nd series. Research report 1975–2002 . Publishing house of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, 2004, ISBN 3-7001-3268-9 .
7. ↑ Natura 2000 area GR4220011, Greek archive link ( memento of the original from August 26, 2014 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was automatically inserted and not yet checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. 
8. ↑ European Environment Agency : GR4220022 Nisoi Christiana
9. ↑ GR 158 Christiana Islets (Νησίδες Χριστιανά) BirdLife , Greek [1]