| Zakynthos island, the southernmost of Greece's | | | | either Mary |
| Ionian Islands is known for Zante currants | | | | Magdalene or St. Beatrice, according to legend. |
| andflowers. First mentioned by Homer, this island | | | | Zakynthos Greece has been built, rebuilt and built |
| is thesite of much Byzantine and medieval history. | | | | upon. |
| Home ofthe National Marine Park to protect the | | | | During the Byzantine Period, pirates raided |
| endangeredloggerhead turtle. | | | | theseshores. Then, during the Crusades, |
| Third largest and southernmost of the Greek | | | | Zakynthos island sufferedhardships, being |
| Ionian | | | | captured and recaptured by variousfactions. Then, |
| Islands, Zakynthos Greece has 123 km of | | | | in 1953, many of the old structurescollapsed |
| coastline. This Greekisland, sometimes called Zante | | | | during a massive earthquake. What icons |
| Greece, has a varied terrainbeginning with the | | | | andfrescos survived have been collected, |
| fertile plains of the southeast andmoving to the | | | | salvaged, andare on display in the Byzantine |
| mountainous west coast with its steepcliffs, with | | | | Museum in Zakinthos island. |
| dramatic, carved out natural arches andnumerous | | | | Human's history is not the only important history |
| sea caves. Pine covered mountains in thenorth roll | | | | ofthis island. Zakinthos Greece is home to |
| into the gentle, lush, richly plantedcentral regions. | | | | loggerhead turtles. |
| To the north, east and south arebeaches, with | | | | The triangular shaped island bears two |
| many campgrounds. | | | | mountainswhich project far into the sea, creating |
| The mild Mediterranean climate combined with | | | | the huge,sheltered Bay of Laganas. Another bay, |
| plentifulrainfall means there is plenty of dense | | | | Geraka, isnearby. These beaches are the breeding |
| vegetation on | | | | grounds of theendangered turtle species. In June, |
| Zakynthos island in Greece. Olives, grapes, citrus | | | | and again in |
| fruits and almondsare all cultivated, but the best | | | | August, female turtles come ashore and lay eggs, |
| known crop may be the | | | | up to |
| Zante currants. These currants are a dried form | | | | 1000 of them, at night. The eggs are buried in |
| of asmall, seedless grape native to this island. | | | | thesand to incubate in the warmth for 55 days. |
| Zakynthos island is also known for flowers. | | | | Babyturtles hatch and return to the sea. Then, |
| Mounds ofblossoms have long filled the warm air | | | | these sameturtles, the females, will return 20 to |
| with perfumeswafting on breezes, delighting | | | | 30 yearslater, to the exact same beach, to lay |
| visitors since timeimmemorial. | | | | their eggs. |
| Zakynthos Greece or Zante Greece has been | | | | The loggerhead turtles have become an |
| inhabited since Neolithic times,as archaeological digs | | | | endangeredspecies because of human behavior. |
| have been discovering anduncovering stone age | | | | Many of the humanvisitors pull deck chairs onto |
| sites. Its geography has madethis island a | | | | the beaches andsunbathe atop the incubating |
| crossroads for many cultures. | | | | eggs. Pollution has alsocaused much of the |
| Zakynthos island's first historical mention is in | | | | population decline of this species. |
| Homer's The | | | | And so the Greek government has established |
| Iliad and again in The Odyssey. Homer informs us | | | | the |
| thatthe inhabitants, at the time he was writing, | | | | National Marine Park of Zakynthos or Zakinthos |
| were theson of the King of Troy and his | | | | island in the beautifulturquoise waters of the Bay |
| followers. Theyprobably first came to the island | | | | of Laganas to protect thehabitat of this important |
| around 1600 BC. | | | | long-time Zakynthos Greeceresident. |
| Zakynthos island was Christianized in 34 AD by | | | | |