Editing Zakynthos (section)

==Geography==
[[File:Zakynthos 3D version 1.gif|right|thumb|Three-dimensional view of Zakynthos relief]]

Zakynthos lies in the eastern part of the Ionian sea, around {{convert|20|km|0|abbr=off}} west of the Greek ([[Peloponnese]]) mainland. The island of [[Kefalonia]] lies {{convert|15|km|0|abbr=off}} to the north. It is the southernmost of the main group of the Ionian islands (not counting distant [[Kythira]]). Zakynthos is about {{convert|40|km|0|abbr=off}} long and {{convert|20|km|0|abbr=off}} wide, and covers an area of {{convert|405.55|km2|sqmi|2|abbr=on}}.<ref name="stat01"/> Its coastline is approximately {{convert|123|km|mi|0|abbr=on}} long. According to the 2011 census, the island has a population of 40,759.<ref name=census11>{{cite web |url=http://www.statistics.gr/documents/20181/1210503/resident_population_census2011rev.xls |script-title=el:Απογραφή Πληθυσμού – Κατοικιών 2011. ΜΟΝΙΜΟΣ Πληθυσμός |publisher=Hellenic Statistical Authority |language=el}}</ref> The highest point is [[Vrachionas]], at {{convert|758|m|abbr=off}}.

Zakynthos has the shape of an [[arrowhead]], with the "tip" (Cape Skinari) pointing northwest. The western half of the island is a mountainous plateau and the southwest coast consists mostly of steep cliffs. The eastern half is a densely populated fertile plain with long sandy beaches, interrupted with several isolated hills, notably [[Bochali]] which overlooks the city and the peninsula of [[Vasilikos, Zakynthos|Vasilikos]] in the northeast. The peninsulas of Vassilikos to the north and Marathia to the south enclose the wide and shallow bay of [[Laganas]] on the southeast part of the island.

The capital, which has the same name as the prefecture, is the town of [[Zakynthos (city)|Zakynthos]]. It lies on the eastern part of the northern coast. Apart from the official name, it is also called ''Chora'' (i.e. the Town, a common denomination in Greece when the name of the island itself is the same as the name of the principal town). The port of Zakynthos has a ferry connecting to the port of [[Kyllini (Elia), Greece|Kyllini]] on the mainland. Another ferry connects the village of Agios Nikolaos to [[Argostoli]] on Kefalonia. Minor uninhabited islands around Zakynthos included in the municipality and regional unit are: Marathonisi, Pelouzo, Agios Sostis in the Laganas bay, [[Agios Nikolaos, Zakynthos|Agios Nikolaos]] near the eponymous harbor on the northern tip, and Agios Ioannis near Porto Vromi on the western coast.

===Flora and fauna===
{{See also|Caretta caretta|Zakynthos horse}}
The mild [[Mediterranean climate]] and plentiful winter rainfall endow the island with dense vegetation. The principal agricultural products are [[olive oil]], [[Zante currant|currants]], grapes and [[citrus]] fruit. The Zante currant is a small sweet seedless grape that is native to the island.

The Bay of Laganas is the site of the first National [[Zakynthos Marine Park|Marine Park]] and the prime nesting area for [[loggerhead sea turtle]]s (''Caretta caretta'') in the Mediterranean.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Alberti |first=Mia |date=2021-07-27 |title=Pandemic gives breathing room to endangered sea turtles |language=en-GB |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/jul/27/pandemic-gives-respite-to-greek-island-sea-turtles-but-returning-tourists-could-wreck-it |access-date=2023-04-24 |issn=0261-3077}}</ref>

===Climate===
Zakynthos has a hot-summer [[Mediterranean climate]] (''Csa'') with hot, dry summers and mild to cool, rainy winters. Like most of the [[Ionian Islands]], it receives sizeable amounts of precipitation during the winter while the summers are mostly hot and sunny. The average annual temperature stands at around {{Convert|18.5|C|F}} while humidity is fairly high throughout the year, even during the summer months.{{Weather box
| location = Zakynthos 1961–1990 (extremes 1961–present)
| single line = Yes
| metric first = Yes
| Jan record high C = 20.2
| Feb record high C = 22.8
| Mar record high C = 24.2
| Apr record high C = 29.8
| May record high C = 35.0
| Jun record high C = 39.4
| Jul record high C = 42.2
| Aug record high C = 40.0
| Sep record high C = 36.8
| Oct record high C = 32.0
| Nov record high C = 26.6
| Dec record high C = 22.2
| year record high C = 42.2
| Jan high C = 14.4
| Feb high C = 14.5
| Mar high C = 16.1
| Apr high C = 18.9
| May high C = 23.4
| Jun high C = 27.8
| Jul high C = 30.7
| Aug high C = 30.6
| Sep high C = 27.6
| Oct high C = 23.0
| Nov high C = 19.0
| Dec high C = 15.8
| year high C = 21.8
| Jan mean C = 11.3
| Feb mean C = 11.5
| Mar mean C = 12.9
| Apr mean C = 15.5
| May mean C = 19.8
| Jun mean C = 24.1
| Jul mean C = 26.7
| Aug mean C = 26.6
| Sep mean C = 23.8
| Oct mean C = 19.6
| Nov mean C = 15.8
| Dec mean C = 12.8
| year mean C = 18.4
| Jan low C = 8.1
| Feb low C = 8.2
| Mar low C = 9.2
| Apr low C = 11.1
| May low C = 14.4
| Jun low C = 18.2
| Jul low C = 20.4
| Aug low C = 20.9
| Sep low C = 18.8
| Oct low C = 15.7
| Nov low C = 12.5
| Dec low C = 9.6
| year low C = 13.9
| Jan record low C = -2.6
| Feb record low C = -2.0
| Mar record low C = 0.0
| Apr record low C = 2.6
| May record low C = 5.0
| Jun record low C = 8.4
| Jul record low C = 12.0
| Aug record low C = 13.4
| Sep record low C = 10.0
| Oct record low C = 5.2
| Nov record low C = 2.8
| Dec record low C = 0.2
| year record low C = -2.6
| precipitation colour = green
| Jan precipitation mm = 150.4
| Feb precipitation mm = 112.8
| Mar precipitation mm = 89.6
| Apr precipitation mm = 51.3
| May precipitation mm = 17.0
| Jun precipitation mm = 7.2
| Jul precipitation mm = 5.0
| Aug precipitation mm = 9.1
| Sep precipitation mm = 25.4
| Oct precipitation mm = 146.5
| Nov precipitation mm = 159.1
| Dec precipitation mm = 169.9
| year precipitation mm = 943.3
| Jan humidity = 74.3
| Feb humidity = 72.8
| Mar humidity = 72.8
| Apr humidity = 71.7
| May humidity = 67.8
| Jun humidity = 62.8
| Jul humidity = 59.3
| Aug humidity = 61.2
| Sep humidity = 66.7
| Oct humidity = 71.7
| Nov humidity = 76.0
| Dec humidity = 75.3
| year humidity = 69.4
| unit precipitation days = 1.0 mm
| Jan precipitation days = 12.8
| Feb precipitation days = 11.3
| Mar precipitation days = 8.2
| Apr precipitation days = 6.1
| May precipitation days = 2.5
| Jun precipitation days = 1.1
| Jul precipitation days = 0.5
| Aug precipitation days = 0.9
| Sep precipitation days = 2.8
| Oct precipitation days = 8.1
| Nov precipitation days = 11.0
| Dec precipitation days = 13.2
| year precipitation days = 78.5
| source 1 = NOAA,<ref name = NOAA>{{cite web |url=ftp://ftp.atdd.noaa.gov/pub/GCOS/WMO-Normals/TABLES/REG_VI/GR/16719.TXT |title=Zakinthos Airport Climate Normals 1961–1990 |publisher=[[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200731112325/ftp://ftp.atdd.noaa.gov/pub/GCOS/WMO-Normals/TABLES/REG_VI/GR/16719.TXT |archive-date=2020-07-31 |url-status=dead |access-date=2 March 2015}}</ref> Info Climat extremes 1991-present <ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.infoclimat.fr/climatologie/normales-records/1981-2010/zakinthos-dionysios/valeurs/16719.html | title=Normales et records climatologiques 1981-2010 à ZAKINTHOS DIONYSIOS - Infoclimat }}</ref>
| date = March 2015
| source = 
}}

===Sights===
[[File:Ναυάγιο Ζακύνθου.jpg|thumb|left|upright|[[Navagio]] ([[MV Panagiotis|shipwreck]]) bay]]
[[{{Not a typo|File:White cliffs on the coast of Zaknythos (Island).jpg}}<!-- Do not change the spelling of the file! -->|alt=White cliffs on the coast of Zakynthos|thumb|White cliffs on the coast of Zakynthos]]
Famous landmarks include the [[Navagio Beach|Navagio beach]], a cove on the northwest shore isolated by high cliffs and accessible only by boat. Numerous natural "blue caves" are cut into cliffs around Cape Skinari; they are accessible only by small boats, which are popular amongst tourists.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.greeka.com/ionian/zakynthos/zakynthos-excursions/zakynthos-blue-caves.htm |title=Zakynthos Blue Caves: The Blue Caves of Zakynthos Greece, Ionian |access-date=18 June 2015}}</ref> [[Keri, Greece|Keri]], on the south of the island, is a mountain village with a lighthouse. The whole western shore from Keri to Skinari contains [[rock formations]] including arches.<ref name="usatoday">{{cite news |url=http://traveltips.usatoday.com/beaches-zakynthos-greece-37375.html |title=Beaches in Zakynthos, Greece |author=Carole Simm |publisher=USA Today Travel |access-date=18 June 2015}}</ref>
[[File:Cliff-walled beach and cliff underpass, Marathia cape, Zakynthos, Greece 01.jpg|thumb|Cliffs and stone arches at Cape Marathia]]

The northern and eastern shores feature numerous wide sandy beaches, some of which attract tourists in the summer months. The largest resort is [[Laganas]]. Marathonissi islet (also known as "Turtle Island") near Limni Keriou has tropical vegetation, turquoise waters, beaches, and sea caves. [[Bochali]] hill above Zakynthos town contains a small Venetian castle.