Zakynthos Island, the southernmost of Greece’s Ionian Islands is known for Zante currants and flowers. First mentioned by Homer, this island is the site of much Byzantine and medieval history. It is the Home of the National Marine Park that protects the endangered loggerhead turtle.

Third largest and southernmost of the Greek Ionian Islands, Zakynthos Greece has 123 km of coastline. This Greek island, sometimes called Zante Greece, has a varied terrain beginning with the fertile plains of the southeast and moving to the mountainous west coast with its steep cliffs, with dramatic, carved out natural arches and numerous sea caves. Pine covered mountains in the north roll into the gentle, lush, richly planted central regions. To the north, east and south are beaches, with many campgrounds
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The mild Mediterranean climate combined with plentiful rainfall means there is plenty of dense vegetation on Zakynthos Island in Greece. Zakynthos Greece or Zante Greece has been inhabited since Neolithic times, as archaeological digs have been discovering and uncovering Stone Age sites. Its geography has made this island a crossroads for many cultures. Zakynthos Island’s first historical mention is in Homer’s The Iliad and again in The Odyssey. Homer informs us that the inhabitants, at the time he was writing, were the son of the King of Troy and his followers. They probably came first to the island around 1600 BC.factions.

Human’s history is not the only important history of this island. Zakynthos Greece is home to loggerhead turtles. The triangular shaped island bears two mountains which project far into the sea, creating the huge, sheltered Bay of Laganas. The loggerhead turtles have become an endangered species because of human behavior. Many of the human visitors pull deck chairs onto the beaches and sunbathe atop the incubating eggs. Pollution has also caused much of the population decline of this species. And so the Greek government has established the National Marine Park of Zakynthos Island in the beautiful turquoise waters of the Bay of Laganas.

Another bay, Geraka, is nearby. These beaches are the breeding grounds of the endangered turtle species. In June, and again in August, female turtles come ashore and lay eggs, up to 1000 of them, at night. The eggs are buried in the sand to incubate in the warmth for 55 days. Baby turtles hatch and return to the sea. Then, these same turtles, the females, will return 20 to 30 years later, to the exact same beach, to lay their eggs.

As for the accommodation on the island, Zante island is filled with fine and also luxurious apartments and hotels which are located throughout the island. It worth’s to mention that Zante accommodation and hotels offer guests services that are tailored to their budget compared to other touristic places in Greece. So upon your visit to Greece don’t forget to visit Zakynthos or Zante island.

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