Petalas

Petalas
Native name:
Πεταλάς
Petalas
Geography
LocationIonian Sea
Coordinates38°24′50″N 21°05′31″E / 38.414°N 21.092°E / 38.414; 21.092
ArchipelagoEchinades
Area5.497 km2 (2.122 sq mi)
Highest elevation251 m (823 ft)
Administration
Greece
RegionIonian Islands
MunicipalityCephalonia
Demographics
Population0 (2011)

Petalas (Greek: Πεταλάς) is the largest island of the Echinades, among the Ionian Islands in Greece. As of 2011, it had no resident population.[1] The largest private island in Greece, it is located in the Ionian Sea. Covering an area of 5.5 square kilometres or 2.1 square miles, the island is known for its natural beauty, with around 4,000 olive trees and surrounded by clear blue waters.

Privately owned, 85% of it belonging to the Tsaoussis family, while the remaining 15% is under the ownership of the nearby island of Kefalonia.

Some, including William Martin Leake, have suggested that Petalas is the site of ancient Dulichium, from which 40 ships sailed to Troy in the Iliad. However, Strabo and most modern authors have identified Dulichium as Makri, a nearby island in the Echinades.

References

  1. ^ "Detailed census results 2011" (in Greek). National Statistical Service of Greece. Archived from the original (xls 2,7 MB) on 2013-12-25. Retrieved 2015-03-03.