Pronunciation | me-lohs |
---|---|
Alternate Spelling | Melos |
Transportation | Air, ferry, hydrofoil |
Main Attractions | Beaches, hot springs, sophisticated nightlife, catacombs |
Food | Many excellent choices |
Accommodations | Many excellent choices |
Milos has a land mass of 152 sq. km, a coastline of 126 km and a population of 5,000. Milos' distance from Piraeus is 86 nautical miles. It's the most westerly of all the Cyclades. Its many long stretches of golden sand beach are some of the best in Greece.
Milos is a uniquely beautiful Cycladic island due to its mineral and
morphological formation. Milos, Kimolos and Andi-Milos are of volcanic
origin, like Santorini to the southeast, but have many geological
differences from it.
Brightly colorful minerals abound
on Milos and delight the eye. Obsidian, sulphur, kaolin,
barium, alum, bensonite and perlite have been quarried on Milos for
thousands of years. Neolithic peoples used papyrus boats to reach
Milos to quarry its minerals, particularly the black, glass-like obsidian. Fantastic
rock formations crop up everywhere.
There are many fjord-like inlets, bathed with sparkling turquoise waters, some with thermal springs.
Milos' gently rolling eastern interior is rich with vegetation while its western mountainous are arid. Milos has the best natural harbor in the Mediterranean. There are many archeological places of interest as well of which Phylkopi on the north coast is most important.