Mykonos is a Greek island, part of the Cyclades, lying between Tinos, Syros, Paros and Naxos.

The island has an area of 85.5 square kilometres (33.0 sq mi) and rises to an elevation of 341 metres (1,119 feet) at its highest point.

There are 10,134 inhabitants according to the 2011 census, most of whom live in the largest town, Mykonos, which lies on the west coast.

The town is also known as Chora (i.e. the Town in Greek, following the common practice in Greece when the name of the island itself is the same as the name of the principal town).

Mykonos’s nickname is “The Island of the Winds”.

It is situated 150 kilometres (93 miles) east of Athens in the Aegean Sea.

The island features no rivers, but numerous seasonal streams two of which have been converted into reservoirs.The island is composed mostly of granite and the terrain is very rocky with many areas eroded by the strong winds.

High quality clay and baryte, which is a mineral used as a lubricant in oil drilling, were mined on the eastern side of Mykonos until the late 1900s.

It produces 4,500 cubic metres (160,000 cu ft) of water daily, by reverse osmosis of sea water in order to help meet the needs of its population and visitors.

The island has a population of nearly 12,500, most of whom live in the main town of Chora.

Holidays in Mykonos

Mykonos has a Mediterranean climate.

The sun shines for up to 300 days a year.The rainy season lasts from October until March.[citation needed] Vegetation follows the typical pattern for the region and grows around mid-autumn and ends in the beginning of the summer.

Although temperatures can rise as high as 40 °C (104 °F) in the summer months, average high temperature is around 28 °C (82 °F) and because of the seasonal cool “meltemi” wind, summer days are dry, sunny and pleasant.

In the winter, average high temperature is around 15 °C (59 °F). The winters in general are mild and wet, with many sunny days still even in mid-winter.

Snow is infrequent and doesn’t stay long on the ground when it falls.Mykonos Airport is located 4 kilometres (2.5 mi) southeast of the town of Mykonos and it is served by international flights during summer. The flight from Athens to Mykonos takes 25 minutes.

Mykonos is also accessible by boat and ferries.

High speed vessels visit daily from the surrounding islands and from Athens.Taxis, buses or boats are available for transportation.

There are three main bus depots in Mykonos.The northern depot is situated behind Remezzo Club above the old Port and provides regular service to Ano Mera, Elia and Kalafatis.

A few hundred meters below, at the Old Port, lays another Depot focusing on the northern destinations of Tourlos (New Port) and Agios Stefanos.

The southern Bus Depot is at the town “entrance”, called Fabrika and it provides regular service to Ornos, Agios Yannis, Plati Gialos, Psarou, Paraga, and Paradise Beach. Small boats travel to and from the many beaches.

Tour boats go regularly to the nearby island of Delos.

** foto by Mikele Designer – Pixabay