Limnos
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Limnos
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Background
Limnos (Λήμνος) is a low lying island of 477 km2 with 16,000 inhabitants. The tallest peak of Skopia is only 430 m above sea level. It is an island not visited by many tourists and very beautiful. Being strategically located at the entrance of the Dardanelles, Limnos has had a long history.
According to mythology, the metal smith god of fire, Hephaestos, had his workshop in Limnos. It was also here that he had his honeymoon when he wedded the beautiful goddess of love Aphrodite. Shortly after the wedding, she was unfaithful to him. Hephaestos accused her of her infidelity to Zeus and called as his witnesses the women of Limnos. The goddess, angered by this, had her revenge by making the Limnian women totally unattractive to their husbands. The women, in their turn, rebelled against the men and butchered them, all except Thoas who was saved by his daughter Hypsilpyle who became the queen of the island. When the Argonauts stopped in Limnos on their way to Colchis, they had affairs with the man-starved ladies and the island was re-populated.
The first known inhabitants of Limnos were the Pelasgians (a Pelasgian inscription has been found from that era which has not been deciphered). Before the Persian Wars the Athenian Miltiades, the future victor of Marathon (490 BC), drove the local inhabitants off and re-populated the island with Athenians. The island changed hands many times and fell under the Macedonians and later under the Romans. It then became part of the Byzantine Empire until 1204 AD. After that time it alternated between the Genoese and the Venetians. The Ottomans took the island in 1478, it was re-occupied by the Venetians in 1656, and it fell back again to the Ottomans, who held it until 1920 when it became part of Greece with the town of Myrina as its capital.
Limnos has many bays, the largest of which is the Bay of Moudros (Κόλπος Μούδρος) is one of the largest natural harbors in the Mediterranean. During the Gallipoli campaign of World War I it was the anchorage of the Allied Fleet.
Today, there is a large military presence mostly based at the large airfield adjacent to the bay.
Charts
BA 1086 Srimonikos kólpos to Edremit körfezi
BA 1636 Plans of Northern Aegean Sea
Imray-Tetra G2 Aegean Sea (North)
NIMA 54360 Thessaloniki to Canakkale Bogazi Dardanelles
NIMA 54369 Approaches to Canakkale Bogazi
NIMA 54352 Limnos
Greek 32 Thrakiko Sea
Greek 322 Limnos & Ay. Efstratios Tenedos
Radio Nets
Also see World Cruiser's Nets
- Coast Guard - VHF channel 12 and telephone +30 2540 22 225 (Myrina), +30 2540 71 240 (Moudros)
- Olympia Radio - VHF channel 82
Most approaches to Limnos are without dangers and straightforward. The exception is Moudros Bay where there are a number of reefs.
Ports and Popular Stops
There is only one harbor, Myrina, but there are several attractive anchorages on the island.
Myrina
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Myrina (Μύρινα) or Mirina [39°52.5' N 25°03.5' E] provides very good shelter. You can either moor stern-to on the N quay or anchor off-shore. The inner harbor is too shallow and it is crowded with fishing boats. The mooring places at the N quay are not many and it best to arrive early. The harbor water is dirty.
Caution: Avoid the spot where the ferryboat from Ayios Efstratios moors. If you tie there, the Limenarchio (coast guard) will be asking you to move at a very early morning hour.
The town of Myrina is very attractive with many reminders of its Ottoman past. It is dominated by the Byzantine castle, built by the emperor Andronikos. There are many stores and little streets, yet it is not crowded and there is an over all laid back atmosphere.
There are water and electricity outlets by the quay and a mini-tank delivering Diesel fuel comes by in the afternoons (tel. +30 2540 26 077). Good shopping and restaurants.
Last Visited & Details Checked (and updated here)
Date of member's visit to this Port/Stop & this page's details validated:
- June 2006 --Istioploos 07:56, 19 June 2008 (MDT)
 View of Myrina Harbor |
 The Harbor of Myrina |
Marinas & Yacht Clubs
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Anchorages
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Routes/Passages To/From
Popular passages/routes, timing, etc.
Tourism & things to do ashore
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Marine Stores & Facilities
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References & Publications
See Greece.
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Contact details of "Cruiser's Friends" that can be contacted for local information or assistance.
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Personal Notes
Personal experiences?
Last Visited & Details Checked (and updated here)
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