Chalki

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Revision as of 19:01, 10 February 2013

Chálki

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	36°13.3′N, 27°36.9′E
	Photo gallery
	Local chartlet
Satellite View of Chalki & Alimnia - Click for larger view

Chálki (Χάλκη) or Halki or Khalki is a small island of 2 km² and about 300 inhabitants located approximately 7 nM west of Rhodes. It is a mountainous off-the-beaten-track island with many sandy beaches. There are many nice neoclassical pastel colored houses surrounding the harbor whose owners have mostly immigrated and live in Florida. The main street is named Tarpon Springs Boulevard.

The island was named Chálki from its copper (chalkos - χαλκός) mines which flourished in antiquity. Its first inhabitants were Pelasgians, Karians, Dorians, Phoenicians. From excavations on the island it appears that it was flourishing from the 10 century BC to the classical period during which it was under Athenian influence. In the middle ages the island was possessed by the Arabs, the Byzantines, the Venetians, and the Genoese. It was then part of the Ottoman Empire until it was sold to the Italians in the 19th century AD. After World War II, in 1948 Chálki along with the rest of the Dodecanese was united with Greece. The island had seen some prosperity in the early part of this century but when the trade of sponges, sponge diving being its chief occupation, collapsed it faced hard times and many of its inhabitants immigrated to the US.

Chálki famous for keeping its old music and traditional songs the 15 syllable mandinádes.

Charts

BA

872 Kalimnos to Rhodes

1667 Rhodes island

Imray-Tetra

G35 Dodecanese and the Coast of Turkey

NIMA

54400 Nisos Samos to Nisos Rhodhos

54416 Nisos Rhodhos

Greek

451 Leros to Rhodos

Radio Nets

• Greek Coast Guard - VHF channel 12
• Olympia Radio - VHF channels 01 & 63

Also see World Cruiser's Nets.

Weather

See Aegean Sea.

Approach and Navigation

Approaches to Chálki are straightforward.

Berthing Options

Ports

Emborio

Chart of Emborió Bay - Chartlet
Click for larger view

36°13.3′N, 27°36.9′E

Emborió or Chálki is the only anchorage on the island and provides reasonable shelter from the meltemi although it is gusty. On the north side of the harbour a new T-shaped pontoon has been installed. Either anchor moor on the outside of the T section, dropping anchor in depths of 12-15 metres, or go alongside the inner section of the pontoon where directed. There were also a few laid moorings at the time of visit (July 2009) along the southern side of the pontoon joining the T section to the shore. Water and electricity is available on a card system - €3 for 500 litres of water and €3 for 300 kW electricity. Typical charge for a night’s mooring is around €1 per metre overall length. There seems to be a constant swell in the harbour in most wind conditions and, since it rolls directly onto the T, the berths on anchor moor on the outside are usually the most comfortable. The harbor can be very crowded at peak times and you may not find room, especially if you arrive late. In such circumstances, the best near-by all weather shelter is at Alimniá.

Alternatively you can anchor off in a cove just W of the harbor. Easy distance by dinghy.

Danger: On the SE of the island, W of the tiny Nisaki island there is a rock, Xera, which is awash and not always easy to see.

Emborio

The Harbor of Chálki Click for larger view

The T-shaped pontoon Click for larger view

Anchoring off, W of the harbor Click for larger view

Marinas & Yacht Clubs

None.

Anchorages

Potamos

Chart of Potamos

36°13.2′N, 27°36.3′E Potamos is a small bay S of Emborió and within walking distance. It is possible to anchor here.

Offshore Islands

None.

Yacht Services and Repairs

Marine Stores

None.

Yacht Services/Repairs/Yards

None.

Fuel, Water, & Electricity

Fuel

N/A (Not Available)

Water

Available on pontoon in Emborio

Electricity

Available on pontoon in Emborio

Things to do Ashore

The colorful houses in Emborió Click for larger view

Tarpon Springs Boulevard Click for larger view

Tourism

At Emborió one can walk along the Tarpon Springs Boulevard to the beach (Potamos). Also one can visit the church of Ayios Nikólaos with the tallest campanile in the Dodecanese.

About an hour uphill walk from Emborio there is the abandoned town Chorió dominated by the castle of the Knights of St. John which is built on top of the ancient acropolis. The view from here is spectacular, on clear days one can see as far as Karpathos and Crete. Also, at Chorió there is the Byzantine church of Panayia with a few frescoes.

Grocery & Supply Stores

Eateries

Internet/WiFi

Available?

Laundry

N/A.

Motorbike & Car Rentals

Garbage Disposal

Trash cans in the harbor.

Transportation

Ferries to Rhodes.

Routes/Passages To/From

• Cruising the Dodecanese Islands

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

• Halki Greece Wikipedia

References & Publications

See Greece.

Personal Notes

• From Pigadhia on Karpathos to Emborio, Halki - 48 miles in six hours in WNW 5 to 6 on yankee, staysail and single reefed main (5 July 2009). For him: cracking; for her: scary --Atheneoflymington 13:14, 21 July 2009 (UTC).

Last Visited & Details Checked (and updated here)

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

• July 2009 --Summercruise 14:50, 10 July 2009 (UTC)
• July 2009 --Atheneoflymington 10:55, 11 July 2009 (UTC)
• August 2009 --Istioploos

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