Kalamos (isla)

Kalamos (en griego: Κάλαμος, conocido en la antigüedad como Κάρνος – Karnos ) es una isla montañosa y una antigua comunidad en las Islas Jónicas , Grecia . Desde la reforma del gobierno local de 2011, forma parte del municipio de Lefkada , del cual es una unidad municipal. ^{[ 2 ]} Se encuentra al este de Lefkada, cerca de la Grecia continental. Tiene una población invernal de alrededor de 500 personas, que aumenta considerablemente en verano debido al turismo.

El nombre Kalamos significa junco en griego y la presencia de esta planta a lo largo de su costa en el pasado puede haber dado origen a su nombre. Otra versión es que la isla tenía varias playas con buena arena (Kali Ammos en griego), de ahí el nombre. La superficie terrestre es de ^24,964 km² ( 9,639 millas cuadradas ) ^{[ 3 ]} y su punto más alto es de 754 m (2,474 pies) sobre el nivel del mar .     

The main settlement on the island is the port town of Kalamos (pop. 454) on the east coast of the island. A regular ferry service connects the island to Mytikas on the mainland. Episkopi (pop. 42) is the only other inhabited village on the island along with Kastro. The village of Kefali, also known by its Venetian name Porto Leone, was abandoned following the 1953 Ionian earthquake. The main church is still in use and still houses the sacred image of the virgin Mary that is also considered a miracle worker. The church and the image celebrate twice a year (one on 30 June and the other on 15 August). A religious celebration on that day is preceded and followed by traditional celebrations with folk music. People from the island and all the surrounding area come to attend.

In the early 1990s, the water system was rebuilt and now every household has running water. As well, in recent years, all the footpaths that were once dirt have been upgraded to stone or pavement. Kalamos, once a remote island without electricity or a proper water system, now has all the conveniences of the mainland. The nearest lyceum (middle school) and gymnasium (secondary school) are in Aetolia-Acarnania where all of the students from the latter categories attend. There is a public kindergarten, elementary and primary school in the main village of Kalamos where all of the children permanently resident on the island attend.

The island is easily reached from the mainland by a regular ferry service from the nearby port of Mytikas in Aetoloakarnania, year round.

The island is geographically situated in the core of the inner Ionian marine protected area, the largest marine protected area in Greece.

• Helen Maroulis

• List of settlements in the Lefkada regional unit
• Kalamos Island biological field station