The Northern Sporades archipelago consists of approximately 135 (mostly uninhabited) islands and islets scattered along the coast of Thessaly. The most significant of these are Skiathos, Skopelos, Alonissos, and Skyros.
The name of the Sporades archipelago is derived from the Greek word "spora" – seed. The term sporadic is used in the sense of scattered, dispersed, rare, isolated, occasional. The island of Evia is also classified as "sporadic" among the Northern Sporades islands. However, due to its size, it is often listed separately.
There are very good flight connections only to the island of Skiathos, and slightly worse to Skyros. The other islands do not have airports. If you are traveling by car, you can use the ferries departing from the port of Volos.
The Sporades are densely forested, which contributes to their very pleasant climate. As on all other islands in the Aegean Sea, the weather is influenced by the Meltemi wind. However, as the islands are partially protected by the mainland from the northwest, where the Meltemi comes from, the wind is usually not as strong here as it is on the more southerly islands of the Cyclades, for example.
National Marine park of Alonissos and Northern Sporades
The National Marine park of Alonissos and Northern Sporades is one of the largest protected marine areas in Europe and the first of two national marine parks in Greece. In addition to the marine area (approximately 2,260 km²), the park also includes many islands (Alonnisos, Peristera, Kyra Panagia, Psathoura, Piperi, Skantzoura, and Gioura) and 22 small islets.
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