Prasonisi
Prasonisi ( Greek Πρασονήσι ( n. Sg. )) Is an approximately 3 km² large, rocky peninsula , which is connected to Rhodes by a sandbank .
geography
Prasonisi is about 2 km long and 1.5 km wide and is located at the extreme southern end of the island of Rhodes. The landscape of the flat peninsula, which is characterized by dwarf shrub vegetation , is determined by surf zones and a few sandy bays in the lee towards the sea . Prasonisi is connected to Rhodes by an isthmus made of sand . This isthmus of Prasonisi is a dynamic structure whose shape is constantly changing. During storms with high waves, it is regularly flooded, as waves then overcome the shore area and put the sandbank under water. The water depth of this flood is approx. 10 to 30 cm. Regardless of this, strong storms can break through the sandbar for months or years. A natural channel then connects both sides of the sea and Prasonisi becomes an island. In this channel a strong current is created when there is strong wind. Crossing the canal should be approached with caution as it has already resulted in several deaths.
location
To the isthmus of Prasonisi a road leads down to Kattavia , the southernmost village of Rhodes. On Prasonisi, the path continues to the southern tip of an old lighthouse , about 11 km from Kattavia.
history
On July 9, 1956, Prasonisi was hit by a tsunami . This was triggered by a seaquake near the Greek island of Amorgos . Local newspapers reported at the time that the tsunami was 9 meters high and temporarily cut off Prasonisi from the mainland. According to an investigation carried out in 2007 with eyewitnesses and measurements, however, it was only 2.10 m high.
Tourism / economy
Windsurfers and kite surfers find good conditions due to the often good wind conditions in the bays on both sides of the isthmus of Prasonisi. Since the end of the 1980s there has been an increased tourist expansion. Two taverns, two small supermarkets, accommodations and surf rental stations were built. For this tourist settlement, as well as for the isthmus and the peninsula, the name Prasonisi is common. A large oil power plant was built directly on the road from Kattavia to Prasonisi, which is operated with low-quality, sulfur-containing, environmentally harmful heavy oil ("Mazut"). To supply this power plant, tankers regularly dock a few hundred meters from Prasonisi beach. The oil is pumped to the power plant via an underground pipeline. Environmental groups tried in vain to prevent the construction of the power station by legal means. The power plant started regular operation in the summer of 2018.
Individual evidence
- ↑ a b Emile A. Okal et al: The 1956 earthquake and tsunami in Amorgos, Greece. (PDF, 2.4 MB). In: Geophys. J. Int. Tape. 178, p. 1545, DOI: 10.1111 / j.1365-246X.2009.04237.x
- ↑ The inundation of Prasonisi
Coordinates: 35 ° 53 ' N , 27 ° 46' E