DODECANESE

The name of the Dodecanese archipelago (Greek: Δωδεκάνησα) comes from the Greek word "dódeka" (twelve), referring to the original twelve main islands that form the basis of the archipelago.

The "twelve", after which the archipelago is named, consist of the islands of Rhodes, Kos, Patmos, Astypalea, Kalymnos, Karpathos, Kasos, Leros, Nisyros, Symi, Tilos and Kastellorizo.

Other larger islands in the archipelago include Agathonisi, Lipsi, Telendos, Alimia, Arki, Chalki, Farmakonisi, Gyali, Kinaros, Levitha, Marathos, Nimos, Pserimos, Saria, Strongyli and Syrna.

The Dodecanese are the most remote of the Greek islands, located off the southwestern coast of Turkey. Of the approximately 100 islands, only less than 30 are inhabited, the largest being Rhodes, Kos and Karpathos.

Although these islands have been the target of various conquerors from ancient times to modern times, their population has retained its Greek origins.

Climate

All the islands in the Aegean Sea, including the Dodecanese, are affected by a wind called the "meltemi" during the summer months.

The meltemi is a strong, dry, northerly wind that blows mainly in the Aegean Sea and the eastern Mediterranean from late May to late September. It is caused by the pressure difference between Europe and the Middle East.

It can reach considerable strength, up to 7-8 degrees on the Beaufort scale.

While it provides refreshing cooling in the summer heat, it also causes large waves and gusts of wind, especially in the narrow straits between the islands, making shipping difficult. It is a great pleasure for water sports enthusiasts such as windsurfing and kiteboarding.

If you like sunbathing on the beach, I will give you a good advice - avoid open, unprotected sandy beaches, which are located on the northern and northwestern coasts of the islands in the Aegean Sea. Meltemi will be a very unpleasant companion for you. Not only because you will have sand literally everywhere, but most likely you will not even be able to swim because of the big waves.

he meltemi gains its greatest strength in the strait between the islands of Rhodes and Crete, where the islands of Karpathos and Kasos are located. That is why Karpathos is called the "island of the winds".