Linosa

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Linosa
Fishing boats on Linosa - in the background different layers of volcanic rock
Fishing boats on Linosa - in the background different layers of volcanic rock
Waters Mediterranean Sea
Archipelago Pelagic Islands
Geographical location 35 ° 51 '59 "  N , 12 ° 52' 6"  E Coordinates: 35 ° 51 '59 "  N , 12 ° 52' 6"  E
Location of Linosa
surface 5.43 km²
Highest elevation Monte Vulcano
195  m slm
Residents 490 (2007)
90 inhabitants / km²
main place Linosa

Linosa is the northernmost of the three Pelagic Islands in the Mediterranean .

Location and dates

The island is about 5 km² and is 170 km south of Sicily , 160 km east of Tunisia and 140 km west of Malta . It is dominated by three extinct volcanic craters: Monte Vulcano (195 m), Monte Rosso (186 m) and Monte Nero (107 m).

The island belongs to the municipality of Lampedusa e Linosa in the Italian Free Municipal Consortium Agrigento in Sicily. Currently 490 people live on Linosa (as of 2007).

Flora and fauna

Compared to the neighboring islands of Lampedusa and Lampione (45 km and 60 km southwest respectively) Linosa is rich in vegetation. Mainly mastic trees , opuntia and some endemic plants such as Valantia calva , which are only found on Linosa, grow here .

Hawksbill sea turtles live in the fish-rich waters and lay their eggs on the island's beaches. In order to protect the threatened animal species and to increase the population again, large parts of the island were placed under nature protection in 2002 ( Riserva Naturale Orientata Isola di Linosa e Lampione ).

history

Linosa was already known in antiquity , was also inhabited at times and was given various names in the course of its history (e.g. Aithusa ). In Roman times it served as a base for the ships of the slave traders, later the pirates.

The island was named Linosa by captain Bernardo Maria Sanvinsente, who went ashore in 1845 on behalf of Ferdinand II with about 40 men and women to settle the island. Back then, the settlers lived in caves and used the old Roman cisterns to draw water. They lived from agriculture and fishing.

In the 1960s a telephone cable was laid from Sicily to Linosa, a power station was built and a school was opened, and in 1973 a seawater desalination plant was installed.

economy

The economic basis of the residents are still fishing and agriculture. Vines, lentils and capers are grown on the fertile volcanic soil.

In addition, tourism is becoming more and more important. There are some hotels, guest houses and campsites.

traffic

Linosa can be reached by ferry from Porto Empedocle on the Sicilian south coast, near Agrigento . The crossing takes about six hours. However, tourist cars are not allowed to land in the high season from June to September.

Hydrofoils operate several times a day between Linosa and Lampedusa .

From Lampedusa there is a flight connection to Palermo .

photos

  • View of the island

  • View of the main town

  • Typical residential building

  • Malta lizard , also found on Linosa

Web links

Commons : Linosa  - collection of images, videos and audio files