Kalymnos, (Greek: Κάλυμνος) is a Greek island and municipality in the southeastern Aegean Sea. It belongs to the Dodecanese and is located to the west of the peninsula of Bodrum (the ancient Halicarnassos), between the islands of Kos (south, at a distance of 12 km) and Leros (north, at a distance of less than 2 km): the latter is linked to it
through a series of islets. Kalymnos lies between two to five hours away by sea
from Rhodes.
In 2001 the
island had a population of 16,235, making it the third most populous island of
the Dodecanese, after Kos and Rhodes. It is known in Greece for the affluence
of much of its population, and also stands both the wealthiest member of the
Dodecanese and one of the wealthiest Greek islands overall. The Municipality
of Kalymnos, which includes the populated offshore islands of Pserimos (pop. 130), Telendos (54),
Kalólimnos (20), and Pláti (2), as well as several uninhabited islets, has a
combined land area of 134.544 km² and a total population of 16,441
inhabitants.
Being the
heart of international sponge industry and trade, particularly after WW2, it is
natural that KALYMNOS should be known as the HOME OF SPONGE DIVERS - that
incredible, death-defying, fearless race of men.
Clear blue
waters, majestic sunsets, windswept hills, elaborate stone formations, endless
stretches of sea spattered with tiny islets or with faint shadows of landmasses
emerging on their horizons comprise some of the island’s unique natural
beauties.
How To Get There
Kalymnos has a new airport that commenced operations on August 10th 2006. The airport is located at Argos, Kalymnos (IATA CODE: JKL), located a few kilometers from Pothia. Olympic Airlines has scheduled service daily from Athens International airport
It is also
possible to book flights FROM and TO Kalymnos Airport on line.
The next
closest airport is on nearby Kos (airport code KGS) which has a regularly
scheduled service on Olympic Airlines, and is well-served by low-cost airlines
during the summer months to Central and Western European nations.In the case
that you arrive from the nearby island of Kos via frequent ferry service you
have the option to use the two services which aproaches the island. 'Anem Ferries' runs a large boat (The 'Olympios Appollon' OR The 'Olympios Zeus') which can take vehicles, The Minicipal Company ANEK, runs the ' Kalymnos Star' a smaller, faster, passenger-only boat. Both vessels arrive in Pothia on
Kalymnos.Both ferries depart from Mastihari on KOS island. Each makes several
sailings a day, the number depending on the season and trade. Also the 'Dodecanese Express' and the 'Dodecanese
pride' - fast and classy catamarans runs almost every day
from Kos town, as do the 'Flying Dolphins' - cigar
shaped hydrofoils.
