The Dodecanese or Dodecanisos is the name of the island complex in
the north eastern Aegean.
They are situated between the islands of Crete,
the Cyclades, Ikaria,
Samos and the Asia
Minor seaboard.
Apart from the twelve main islands, which gave the name to the island
complex (Rhodes, Astypalia,
Kalymnos, Karpathos,
Kasos, Kos,
Leros, Nisyros,
Patmos, Symi,
Tilos, Halki),
the islets of Lipsi (16 square
kms), Pserimos (14,6 square
kms), Agathonisi (13,4 square
kms), Saria (11 square kms),
Kastellorizo (9,1 square
kms), Levitha (9 square kms),
Giali (6 square kms), Kinaros
(4,3 square kms) amongst other islets, barren islets and rock peaks, all consitute
the group of islands known as the Dodecanese.
Sea shells and crustacean fossils which are found on top of mountains
indicate that the formation of this island chain, either wholly or partly, occurred
under the surface of the sea. During lengthy and complex geological upheavals,
dry land emerged only to be, to a great extent, resubmerged some 3-4 million years
ago, leaving only the mountain tops of “Aigaiida” above sea level
to form today’s Aegean
Islands.
The Dodecanese climate is of a transitional type and ranges from temperate
to dry tropical climates which is characterised with lots of sunlight and an extended
dry summer period.
(Text: Manolis Makris)
This text (extract) is cited February 2004 from the Dodekanissos
Union of Municipalities & Communities pamphlet.
