Zakynthos

Zakynthos Περιφερειακή ενότητα / Δήμος Ζακύνθου
Regional unit
View of Zakynthos City
Flag
Zakynthos within Greece
Coordinates: 37°48′N 20°45′E / 37.800°N 20.750°E / 37.800; 20.750Coordinates: 37°48′N 20°45′E / 37.800°N 20.750°E / 37.800; 20.750
Country	Greece
Region	Ionian Islands
Capital	Zakynthos (city)
Government
• Vice Governor	Eleutherios Niotopoulos
• Mayor	Pavlos Kolokotsas
Area
• Total	405.55 km2 (156.58 sq mi)
Population (2011)
• Total	40,759
• Density	100/km2 (260/sq mi)
Demonym(s)	Zakynthian
Postal codes	29x xx
Area codes	2695
Car plates	ΖΑ
Website	www.zakynthos.gov.gr

Zakynthos (Greek: Ζάκυνθος [ˈzacinθos]) or Zante (/ˈzɑːnti, -teɪ, ˈzæn-/; from Venetian) is a Greek island in the Ionian Sea. It is the third largest of the Ionian Islands. Zakynthos is a separate regional unit of the Ionian Islands region, and its only municipality. It covers an area of 405.55 km² (156.6 sq mi) and its coastline is roughly 123 km (76 mi) in length. The name, like all similar names ending in -nthos, is pre-Mycenaean or Pelasgian in origin. In Greek mythology the island was said to be named after Zakynthos, the son of a legendary Arcadian chief Dardanus.

Zakynthos is a tourist destination, with an international airport served by many charter flights from northern Europe. The island's nickname is To fioro tou Levante (Italian: Il fiore di Levante, English: The flower of the East), given by the Venetians.