Arkoi
Due to the small population there is no real capital, as such, though most inhabitants live close to the main harbour with the rest living scattered around the island on higher ground.
The majority of the population find employment either in fishing, goat herding or helping to run one of the islands four tavernas. There are few facilities on the island with only a handful of rooms run by the local taveras Tripas & Nikolaos and only one very small mini-market.
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Wildlife
The island is characterised by dry, rocky land with little in the way of vegetation apart from olive trees and some hardy shrubs. Fauna on the island mainly consists of livestock such as goats or donkeys, though herons can be spotted occasionally. The marine life in the bays around the island has not suffered as much as on other Greek islands with various species of grouper and nudibranch present.
Sights of interest
There is little in the way of 'sights' to see on the island, though there are some places of interest. On the hill overlooking the main harbour are situated the ruins of an acropolis. Although little remains of the structure, the stones used to build it make a good viewpoint at which to see the sun set over the Aegean.At one end of the island, towards the island of Lipsi is the best beach on the island, Tiganakia. This beach is small and somewhat rocky but provides crystal clear waters to swim in and the view across the bay to the nearby islets is idyllic. This beach can become swamped in high summer (July and August) as day trippers from nearby Lipsi visit the beach frequently. At the other end of the island, in the direction of Samos, is what is referred to as the 'italian jail'. Villagers say it was used during World War II as a prison by the Italian army that occupied the island. Also at this end of the island is a decent sized cave, which although not growing any longer, contains a number of stalactite and stalagmite formations. The cave is however difficult to find as the land around it is covered by olive trees and other bushes.
Nearby Islands
The closest inhabited island is that of Marathi, though the closest populations of any significant size are found on the islands of Lipsi and Patmos.
Transport links
There is ferry service that runs between Samos, Patmos, and Lipsi, that calls at the island, as well as occasional small ferries to other nearby islands such as Marathi.
External links
- Arkoi at Greece.org
- Brief description of Arki and some limited tourist information
- Sailor and mooring information about Arki
Categories
Islands of Greece | Aegean dispute grey zones