Antikythera Island and surrounding islets and Gramvousa Peninsula and surrounding islets

The area of Antikythera and the neighboring islets is located south of the Peloponnese, between Kythera and Crete. The island of Antikythera is dry with two major mountains, and many small valleys. The vegetation is typical of Mediterranean ecosystems. Few people live on the island now, engaged mainly in fishing, beekeeping and animal husbandry. It is one of the most important sites for bird migration in Greece, with a very large number of birds passing over, during the two migration periods.

The peninsula of Gramvousa and the surrounding islands are located in the northwest of Crete. The area of the peninsula is a relatively isolated and inaccessible strip of land with cliffs, without settlements and dense road network, which is mainly covered by brushwood. In Imeri Gramvousa there is a strong tourism activity during the summer months. The site is located in the migration corridor of southeastern Peloponnese – Kythira – Antikythira- northwestern Crete, from where a large number of raptors and other bird species pass.

About 1000 pairs of Eleonora’s falcon nest in the region.

The area is part of the Natura 2000 network (GR3000012, GR3000008).

 

NB_Antikythera