Gulf of Kefalos
| Gulf of Kefalos Κόλπος Κεφάλου |
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 View from Kefalos (town) over part of the Gulf of Kefalos towards Dikeos and Cape Agios Nikolaos |
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| Waters | eastern Aegean , off the coast of Asia Minor | |
| Land mass | Kos island | |
| Geographical location | 36 ° 43 ′ N , 27 ° 2 ′ E | |
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| width | approx. 16 km | |
| surface | about 120 km² | |
The Gulf of Kefalos ( Greek Κόλπος Κεφάλου Kólpos Kefálou ) is located at the western end of the Greek island of Kos in the eastern Aegean . Kos is upstream of the coast of Asia Minor , the Gulf of Kefalos is turned away from the Turkish coast (towards Crete ).
Name, geography and history
The bay was named after the small town of Kefalos and is about halfway on the Kefalos peninsula ( Χερσόνησος Κεφάλου ), which is dominated by the 429 m high mountain Latra (also Lathra or Λάτρα ) in the extreme south and the mountain Zini ( 362 m ) . Cape Routhiano with Mount Zini and the Aspri Petra cave pushes into the bay. The western end of the bay is taken by Cape Krikelos (Akra Krikelos) and the eastern end by Cape Agios Nikolaos . Skinou Bay is located between Cape Krikelos and Cape Routhiano. Between Cape Routhiano and Cap Tigani (at the narrow point of the island of Kos) the Agios Stefanos Bay. Cape Krikelos is the westernmost end of the island of Kos.
Within the gulf there are several tourist beaches and resorts as well as the port of Kamari and the settlements of Onia and Kampos. In front of the settlement of Kampos there are two small islands in the bay. On the west, Kastri ( Kαστρί ), is the chapel of Agios Nikolaos ( Άγιος Νικόλαος ). Opposite the small island of Kastri on the beach near Kampos are the ruins of two churches ( Agios Stefanos ). The earthquake of 213 BC Most of the old buildings were destroyed on the Kefalos peninsula.
Kefalos is located on a plateau about a hundred meters above sea level. The ruins of a medieval castle near Kefalos of the Order of St. John still bear witness to the strategic importance of the bay in the Middle Ages. The former capital of the island, Astypalea , is said to have been located nearby .
Opposite the Gulf of Kefalos are five larger, easily visible islands (enumerated from west to east):
- Pergousa ( Περγούσα [ pɛrˈɣusa ], trans. Also Pergoussa ),
- Pachia ( Παχειά or Παχιά [ paˈça ]),
- Nisyros ( Νίσυρος [ ˈnisirɔs ]),
- Gyali ( Γυαλί [ ʝaˈli ], German 'glass' ),
- Strongyli ( Στρογγύλ [ strɔŋˈgʲili ], German 'round' ).
West, outside the golf hole is also the uninhabited island Kandelioussa ( Κανδελιούσσα to see and east s) Datça Peninsula ( mainland of Turkey ).
