Information about Ionian sea

The Ionian Sea.

The Ionian Sea, as seen from Corfu Island, with mainland Greece and Albania seen in the background

The Ionian Sea (Greek Ιόνιο Πέλαγος (Ionio Pelagos), Italian Mare Ionio, Albanian Deti Jon (meaning "Our sea")) is an arm of the Mediterranean Sea, south of the Adriatic Sea. It is bounded by southern Italy, including Calabria, Sicily and the Salento peninsula, to the west, by southwestern Albania and a large number of Greek islands, including Corfu, Zante, Kephalonia, Ithaka, and Lefkas to the east. The islands are collectively referred to as the Ionian Islands, and other islands including the Strophades, Sphagia, Schiza, Sapientza and Kythira. The sea is one of the most seismic areas in the world.

There are ferry routes between Patras, Greece and Brindisi and Ancona, Italy, that cross over the east and north of the Ionian Sea, and shipping routes from Piraeus westward cross as well.

Origin and myth of the eponym of the Ionian Sea

The eponym of the Ionian Sea (whose name was more often, particularly by Aeschylus, attributed to Io's voyage; previously the Ionian Gulf was thought to have been called the sea of Cronus and Rhea). Ionius was the son of King Adrias of Illyria who gave his name to the Adriatic.

Ionius was also said to have been a son of Dyrrhachus of the town of Dyrrhachium (ancient Epidamnos) (modern Durrës). When Dyrrhachus was attacked by his own brothers, Heracles, who was passing through the country, came to his aid, but in the fight the hero killed his ally's son by mistake. The corpse was cast into the sea, which thereafter was called the Ionian Sea.

The name Jon (Ionius) is a very popular one among the Albanians, while in reference to the sea it is explained as meaning Our Sea (Deti Jon; jonë means our in Albanian).

Places

In order from south to north in the west and then north to south in the east:

Syracuse, port, W
Catania, port, W
Saranda, port and a beach, NE
Parga, small port
Preveza,port, E
Astakos
Fiskardo, small port
Keri, no port
Methoni, small port and a beach

Gulfs and straits

Strait of Messina, W
Gulf of Taranto, NW
Ambracian Gulf, E
Gulf of Patras, connecting the Gulf of Corinth, ESE
Cyparissian Gulf, SE
Messenian Gulf, SE
Laconian Gulf, ESE

Tributaries

In order from north to south

*Pineios River (Peloponnese)
Ambracian Gulf
Acherontas River
Gulf of Patras/Strait of Rio-Antirrio Watershed
Acheloos River
Glaucos/Glavkos River - Panachaicus mountains to south of Patras
Louros River, north
Cyparissian Gulf
Alfeios River
Kladeos or Cladeus River
Erymanthus River
Ladon River
Ladon Lake
Loussios River
Larissos River - Nea Manolada
Neda River - Elia-Messenia boundary/border

Coordinates:

Greek}}}
Writing system: Greek alphabet
Official status
Official language of: Greece
Cyprus
European Union
recognised as minority language in parts of:
European Union
Italy
Turkey
Regulated by:
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Italian}}}
Official status
Official language of: European Union
European Union
Switzerland
San Marino
Vatican City
Sovereign Military Order of Malta

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Albanian (gjuha shqipe IPA /ˈɟuˌha ˈʃciˌpɛ/
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Mediterranean is a sea of the Atlantic Ocean almost completely enclosed by land: on the north by Europe, on the south by Africa, and on the east by Asia. It covers an approximate area of 2.
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Adriatic Sea is a body of water separating the Italian Peninsula from the Balkan peninsula, and the system of the Apennine Mountains from that of the Dinaric Alps and adjacent ranges. The Adriatic Sea is a part of the Mediterranean Sea.
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Anthem
Il Canto degli Italiani
(also known as Fratelli d'Italia)

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Regione Calabria

Map highlighting the location of Calabria in Italy

Capital Catanzaro
President Agazio Loiero
(PDM-Union)
Provinces Catanzaro
Cosenza
Crotone
Reggio Calabria
Vibo Valentia
Comuni 409
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Regione Autonoma Siciliana

Map highlighting the location of Sicilia in Italy

Capital Palermo
President Salvatore Cuffaro
(UDC-CdL)
Provinces Agrigento
Caltanissetta
Catania
Enna
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Salento (Salentu in local dialect) is the south-eastern extremity of the Apulia region of Italy. It is a sub-peninsula of the main Italian peninsula, sometimes described as the "heel" of the Italian "boot".
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Motto

Ti Shqipëri më jep nder më jep emrin shqipëtar ( Albania give me honor, give me the Albanian name.)
Anthem
Rreth flamurit të përbashkuar''
("United Around the Flag")

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This is a list of some of the 1400 islands of Greece, of which 227 are inhabited (or maybe just 169 as quoted by the Greek Ministry of Press and Mass Media from a 1999 survey quoted in 'About Greece'). Only 78 islands have more than 100 inhabitants.
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Zakynthos (Greek: Ζάκυνθος, sometimes called Zante in English; in Italian Zacinto or Zante), the third largest of the Ionian Islands, covers an area of 410 square kilometers and its coastline is roughly 123 kilometers in length.
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Kefalonia
Κεφαλονιά

Panoramic view of Assos
Geography

Island Chain: Ionian Islands
Area:^[1] 906.5 km (0 sq.mi.
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Ithaca
Ιθάκ?

Vathi, South Ithaca
Geography

Island Chain: Ionian Islands
Area:^[1] 117.812 km (0 sq.mi.
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Lefkada, or Leucas (Greek: Modern: Λευκάδα, Ancient/Katharevousa: -as; Italian: Santa Maura) is a Greek island in the Ionian Sea on the west coast of Greece, connected to the mainland by a long causeway and floating bridge, as well
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Ionian Islands (Modern Greek: Ιόνια νησιά, Ionia nisia; Ancient Greek: Ἰόνιοι Νῆσοι, Ionioi Nēsoi
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Strofades (in Greek Strofadhes; in Latin Strophades; also Stamphane Islands; Strivali) is a small group of Greek islands in the Ionian Islands. They lie about 50 km south-southeast of the island of Zakynthos.
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Sphagia is the modern name of the island known in ancient times as Sphacteria. It is located in the Peloponnese, Greece. It is located west of Pylos.

Coordinates:
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Schiza (Σχίζα) is a Greek island off the southwestern coast of the Peloponnese. The 2001 census reported a population of two inhabitants. Administratively it is part of the municipality of Methóni in the Messinia Prefecture.
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Sapientza (Σαπιέντζα) is a Greek island off the southern coast of the Peloponnese. It is administratively part of the municipality of Methóni in the Messinia Prefecture. The 2001 census reported a population of seven inhabitants.
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Kythira
Κύθηρa

The island's main port Diakofti
Geography

Island Chain: Ionian Islands
Area:^[1] 279.593 km (0 sq.mi.
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ferry is a form of transport, usually a boat or ship, but also other forms, carrying (or ferrying) passengers and sometimes their vehicles. Ferries are also used to transport freight (in lorries and sometimes unpowered freight containers) and even railroad cars.
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Location

Coordinates Coordinates:
Time zone: EET/EEST (UTC+2/3)
Elevation (min-max): 0 - 10 m (0 - 0 ft)
Government
Country:
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Country Italy
Region Puglia
Province Brindisi (BR)
Mayor Domenico Mennitti (since june 14, 2004)

Area km
Population
- Total (as of December 31, 2004)
- Density /km

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Country Italy
Region Marche
Province Ancona (AN)
Mayor Fabio Sturani

Area km
Population
- Total (as of November, 2005)
- Density /km
Time zone CET, UTC+1

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Location

Coordinates Coordinates:
Time zone: EET/EEST (UTC+2/3)
Elevation (min-max): 2 - 6.
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Aeschylus (Greek: Αἰσχύλος, IPA: /ˈɛskələs/ or
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Io (IPA [ˈaɪoʊ] or [ˈiːoʊ]), (World Book «EYE oh»)a priestess of Hera in Argos^[1]
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Cronus (Ancient Greek Κρόνος, Krónos), also called Cronos or Kronos, was the leader and the youngest of the first generation of Titans, divine descendants of Gaia, the earth, and Uranus, the sky.
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