Kefalonia
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Cephalonia Κεφαλονιά Kefaloniá |
|
|---|---|
| regional unit | |
View of Asos, Cephalonia
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|
 Cephalonia within the Ionian Islands |
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| Coordinates: 38°15′N 20°30′E / 38.250°N 20.500°ECoordinates: 38°15′N 20°30′E / 38.250°N 20.500°E | |
| Country | Greece |
| Region | Ionian Islands |
| Capital | Argostoli |
| Government | |
| • Vice-Governor | Sotiris Kouris |
| • Mayor | Alexandros Parisis |
| Area | |
| • Total | 786.58 km2 (303.70 sq mi) |
| • Land | 773 km2 (298 sq mi) |
| Total area includes other islands which form part of the Cephalonia regional unit | |
| Population (2011) | |
| • Total | 35,801 |
| • Density | 46/km2 (120/sq mi) |
| Time zone | EET (UTC+2) |
| • Summer (DST) | EEST (UTC+3) |
| Postal codes | 280 xx |
| Area codes | 267x0 |
| Car plates | ΚΕ |
| Website | www |
Cephalonia or Kefalonia (Greek: Κεφαλονιά or Κεφαλλονιά), formerly also known as Kefallinia or Kephallenia (Κεφαλληνία), is the largest of the Ionian Islands in western Greece. It is also a separate regional unit of the Ionian Islands region, and the only municipality of the regional unit. It was also a former Latin Catholic diocese Kefalonia–Zakynthos (Cefalonia–Zante) and short-lived titular see as just Kefalonia.
The capital of Cephalonia is Argostoli.
The main island of the regional unit is Cephalonia and has a size of 773 km2 (300 mi2), with a population density of 55 people per km2 (140/mi2). The town of Argostoli has one-third of the island's inhabitants. Lixouri is the second major settlement, and the two towns together account for almost two-thirds of the prefecture's population.
The other major islands are: Petalas Island, Asteris Island, but they are uninhabited.
Cephalonia lies in the heart of an earthquake zone, and dozens of minor, unrecorded tremors occur each year. In 1953, a massive earthquake destroyed almost all of the settlements on the island, leaving only Fiskardo in the north untouched.
Important natural features include Melissani Lake, the Drogarati caves, and the Koutavos Lagoon in Argostoli.
The island has a rich biodiversity, with a substantial number of endemic and rare species. Some areas have been declared a site in the European Union’s Natura 2000 network.
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Wikipedia