Thasos

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Thasos

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40°46.9′N, 24°42.6′E
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Photo gallery
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Local chartlet

Thasos or Thassos (Θάσος) is the northernmost of the Greek islands. It has an area of 398 km2 its highest peak is Mt. Ipsarion at 1070 m (3510 ft). Thasos is not subject to the meltemi and has a much more humid climate than other Aegean islands. As a result it is very green and covered with many trees (pine, walnut, sycamores, and chestnut) although fires in 1985 and 89 caused extensive damage to the forests. It is also famous for its vicious and voracious mosquitoes.

According to Herodotus, Thasos was settled in 1500 BC by Phoenicians led by Cadmus and Thássos while seeking Cadmos' sister Europa who had been abducted by Zeus. Thássos gave up on the search and established a colony on the island. Later, in 710 BC, Parians, attracted by rich veins of gold also colonized the island. In 490 BC the Persians invaded the island and their king Darius ordered that the marble walls of the city be destroyed. Ten years later, on the second Persian expedition against the Greeks, led by Xerxes, the now defenseless city used diplomacy to prevent another disaster and laid out a banquet for the king, who spared them and went on to his defeat in Salamis. Following the Persian Wars, Athens prevailed on the Thasians to join the Delian League but they soon revolted. Athens dispatched Kimon, their famous general, who in 463 BC subdued them after a two year siege. After that, Thasos was ruled by either Athens or Sparta, as the fortunes of these two cities changed in the course of the Peloponnesian War. Eventually, Philip the Macedon, father of Alexander the Great, conquered the island and appropriated its mainland gold mines. In 197 BC the Romans defeated the Macedonians and Thasos became part of the Roman Empire. During this period the island prospered trading throughout the Greek world mostly marble and wine. This prosperity continued through the Byzantine period till the 1300 AD when the Genoese dominated the island. They in turn were succeeded by the Ottomans in 1460 AD who were followed by the Russians from 1700 to 1770, and the Ottomans again. In 1813 the Sultan gave Thasos to Mohamed Ali, the powerful governor of Egypt, who was from near by Kavala and was raised on Thasos in the village of Theologos. He loved Thasos and favored it by low taxes and virtual autonomy. This benevolent rule ended in 1902 when the Turks once again took over the island. At the end of the Balkan Wars, in 1912 Thasos unified with Greece. This union was interrupted briefly in 1916 when the allies (England & France) occupied it and in 1941 when the Axis ally Bulgaria occupied the island till the end of the World War II when it reverted back to Greece.

Today Thasos is seasonally occupied by tourists and is booming. It still produces wine and is famous in Greece for its olives and salami.

Charts

Satellite View of Thassos
Click for larger view
BA
1086 Srimonikos kólpos to Edremit körfezi
Imray-Tetra
G2 Aegean Sea (North)
NIMA
54360 Thessaloniki to Canakkale Bogazi
54363 Akra Akrathos to Dardanelles
Greek
32 Thrakiko Sea
321 Thassos, Alexandroupolis, Samothrake, Imvros

Radio Nets

Also see World Cruiser's Nets

  • Coast Guard - VHF channel 12 and tel. +30 5930 22 106
  • Olympia Radio -VHF channels 25 & 85

Weather

See Aegean Sea.

Approach and Navigation

Approaches to the island of Thasos are straightforward. For more details see individual ports.

Check-in facilities

None.

Ports and Popular Stops

Ports

Neo Limani

Old and new harbours, Thasos
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The new harbour of Neo Limani is 500 meters west of the old harbour and is now the preferred harbour for visiting yachts, offering good all round shelter and depths of four meters plus. Yachts go alongside or - at busy periods - anchor moor to either of the two breakwaters. Hydrofoil ferries use the inner section of the north breakwater but their wash is not generally too disturbing. There were no electricity and water installations as at July 2008.

Limenas

Chart of Limenas - Chartlet
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World icon.png 40°46.9′N, 24°42.6′E
Limenas (Λιμένας) or Port Thasos or Panayia is the main harbor of Thasos. It provides excellent all around shelter. Go stern-to on the SE side, Good holding. If it is too crowded, you can go stern-to the E mole but the rocks cannot get too close to the mole and will have to take long lines with the dinghy. The harbor is pleasant and surrounded by some excellent restaurants.

Caution: The ancient mole extends underwater for approximately 300 m to the NE of the harbor. Stay clear.

Satellite view of Limenas
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Limenaria

Chart of Limenaria
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World icon.png 40°37.4′N, 24°34.4′E
Limenaria (Λιμενάρια), on the SW corner of the island, is the second yacht harbor in Thasos. While open to the S, it offers good shelter from the N wind. The harbor is rather shallow and it is almost impossible to approach the two small jetties. Anchor off at about 3-4 m. The harbor can be noisy at night. Many restaurants.

Anchorages

Prinos Bay

World icon.png 40°45.7′N, 24°34.5′E
This is an open bay to the N of Cape Prinos. It affords some shelter from the prevailing N winds.

Makriammos

World icon.png 40°46.2′N, 24°43.7′E
Open bay at NE corner of Thasos. There is short mole with 2 m depth that provides some shelter from the NE winds.

Skala Potamias

World icon.png 40°43.6′N, 24°45.9′E
This is a large bay on the E coast of the island, just S of Cape Pyrgos. Reasonable shelter from the NE winds. Sand bottom.

Aliki

World icon.png 40°37′N, 24°45.7′E
Aliki, on the SE of the island, provides good shelter from the N winds although it is open to the S. Several coves.

Marinas & Yacht Clubs

None.

Yacht Services and Repairs

Also see each Port

Marine Stores

None. Only fishing supplies.

Yacht Services/Repairs/Yards

None.

Fuel, Water, & Electricity

Fuel
In both Limenas and Limenaria you must carry with jerry cans from a gas station, the station in Limenaria is closer to the harbor
Water
Is available at the "old harbor" in Limenas
Electricity
N/A (Not Available)

Offshore Islands

None.

Tourism and Things to do Ashore

Tourism

Thasos4.jpg
The Temple of Dionysos
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Thasos5.jpg
The Roman Agora
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Thasos2.jpg
The Temple of Dioscuri at Aliki
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The SE Coast
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The Archangelou Monastery
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In Limenas

Limenas is right next to the site of the Town of Ancient Thasos. This is a large and very rich site with a Roman Agora, marble walls, a Greek Theater, gates, several sanctuaries, an Odeon, and up the hill the Acropolis and the Genoese Castle.

Next to the site there is Archaeological Museum of Thasos (open Saturday and Sunday 8:30-15:00 and Tuesday-Friday 8:00-19:00).

Aliki & Thimonia

Overlooking the beach and anchorage of Aliki along the SE shore of the island is an Archaic Doric Temple dedicated to the Dioscuri (The Gemini Castor and Pollux the brothers of Helen). Near at Thimonia by there is also an ancient settlement and a Hellenistic tower.

Archangelou Monastery

This is a small monastery with a handsome slate roof, overlooking the SE shore. The nuns will show you a piece of the "original" Holly Cross.

In Limenaria

Limenaria, the second largest town in Thasos, used to be a mining town but now it is almost overrun by tourists.

The impressive Palataki (little Palace) dominates the rocky cape where it stands just at the end of Limenaria harbor. It is a two-storied building, rectangular, with two little towers on its narrow facets. As a vivid example of eclectic architecture, it is characterized by a strict geometry and influenced from central European adherents. It was built between 1903 and 1904 to house the administration of Speidel, the German company which by then was exploiting the Thasos mines. In 1963 though, it stopped and its industrial installations were deserted. Work to support the building so that it can be reused as a cultural center started in 1993.

Grocery & Supply Stores

Eateries

  • In Limenas good food at the Platanos taverna at the "old harbor"
  • In Limenaria the Limenariotisa (on the inner road), serves very good mezedes

Internet/WiFi

In Internet cafés.

Laundry

In Limenas.

Motorbike & Car Rentals

Available in both Limenas and Limenaria.

Garbage Disposal

There are bins around the harbors and in several anchorages.

Transportation

There are frequent ferry boats from Limenas to Kavala and its airport.

Cruiser's Friends

Contact details of "Cruiser's Friends" that can be contacted for local information or assistance.

Forum Discussions

List links to discussion threads on partnering forums. (see link for requirements)

External Links

References & Publications

See Greece.

Last Visited & Details Checked (and updated here)

Date of member's visit to this Port/Stop & this page's details validated:

Personal Notes

Personal experiences?

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SailorSmiley.gifContributors to this page

Names: Istioploos, Athene of Lymington


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