Kastellorizo Island

Meis, also known as Kızılhisar Island, is the only island of Greece in the Mediterranean. The island is a Mediterranean island in the Eastern Mediterranean, connected to the Dodecanese Islands (Dodekanesos) of Greece, only 2.1 km from Antalya's Kaş district. It is possible to make day trips to the island from Kaş center with Xanthos Travel tours .

History

The only settlement on the island, Kastellorizo ​​(Megisti or Meis), is a corrupted form of the name Château-Roux (Red Castle) that the Knights of St. Jean gave to the island because of the red rocks here. After the Knights of St.Jean, the island came under Ottoman rule in Egypt, Naples and in 1512, respectively. The Ottomans held the island until 1915, except for short intervals. The island, which was captured by the French during World War I, was given to Italy with the Treaty of Lausanne (1923). II. After World War II (1948), it was connected to Greece together with the Dodecanese Islands.

Research shows that Meis Island was ruled by Rhodes during the Hellenistic Period. The island was first colonized by nomadic tribes of Greek origin, Indo/European origin called Dorians.

Small amount of grapes and olives are grown on the island, and the most important occupation is sponge fishing. The island, whose shores are extremely indented and steep, can only be entered from the east coast. The only settlement is the village of Kastellorizo ​​(Megisti) on this coast.

There is a ferry and airway connection with Rhodes. Apart from this, it is possible to go to the city of Meis with the ferries departing from Antalya's Kaş district every day. There is an airport on the island. There are only bus services between the airport and Megisti on the island.

The population is 406 according to the 2000 census. However, this number can rise to 1000 in summer. All 406 people with a permanent population live in the village of Meis (Megisti during the Ottoman Empire), which is also the largest settlement on the island.

Source: Vikipedi