Hydra
is one of the Saronic Islands of Greece in the Aegean Sea between the
Saronic Gulf and the Argolic Gulf. It is separated from the Peloponnese
by a narrow strait called on some maps the Hydra Gulf. It is also a municipality
and was one of the few provinces in Greece that have only two municipalities
and fewer than five communes. In ancient times, the island was known as
Hydrea. The uninhabited island of Dokos is included in the municipality.
Hydra is the only inhabited island in the municipality. Ferries arrive
regularly from Piraeus and Napflion on the Peloponnese. No motor vehicles
are allowed on this island, so the public transportation is provided by
taxi-donkeys. The inhabited area is so compact that most people walk everywhere.
There is one main town, known simply as Hydra port. It consists of a crescent-shaped
harbor, around which is a strand of commercial establishments restaurants,
shops, markets, and galleries catering to tourists and locals called Hydriots.
Leading up from the harbor are steep stone streets containing most of
the houses in which the Hydriots live, along with hostelries that range
from luxurious to humble. The island is practically waterless it had some
wells that were closed by seismic activity in the mid-20th century, so
water is imported by boat from the mainland. Most of the island is dry,
rocky hillside, empty save for the occasional farmhouse and one or two
very isolated Orthodox monasteries.
This content from Wikipedia is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License
This content from Wikipedia is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License
