Thasos
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Thasos
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Background
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
BA 1086 Srimonikos kólpos to Edremit körfezi
Imray-Tetra G2 Aegean Sea (North)
NIMA 54360 Thessaloniki to Canakkale Bogazi
NIMA 54363 Akra Akrathos to Dardanelles
Greek 32 Thrakiko Sea
Greek 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
Approaches to the island of Thasos are straightforward. For more details see individual ports.
Ports and Popular Stops
Limenas
Marinas & Yacht Clubs
See each Port/Stop
Anchorages
See each Port/Stop
Offshore Islands
List Islands
Routes/Passages To/From
Popular passages/routes, timing, etc.
Tourism & things to do ashore
Also see each Port/Stop
Marine Stores & Facilities
See each Port/Stop
References & Publications
Publications, Guides, etc.
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 the Cruiser Log Forum
External Links
- Thasos (Wikipedia)
Personal Notes
Personal experiences?
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