Corfu
Corfu
Κέρκυρα
Pontikonisi and Vlaheraina monastery as viewed from the
hilltops of Kanoni
Geography
Coordinates: 39°40′N 19°45′E / 39.667°N
19.75°E / 39.667; 19.75
Island
Chain:
Ionian Islands
Area:[1]
592.877 km² (229 sq.mi.)
Highest
Mountain:
Mt. Pandokratoras (906
m (2,972 ft))
Government
Greece
Periphery:
Ionian Islands
Prefecture:
Corfu
Capital:
Corfu (city)
Statistics
Population:
107,879 (as of 2001)
Density:
182 /km² (471 /sq.mi.)
Postal Code: 490 82,490 83, 490 84, 491 00
Area Code:
26610- (town and middle island),
26620- (south and paxoi),
26630- (north)
License
Code:
KY
Website
www.corfu.gr Corfu Town
Corfu
(Greek:
Κέρκυρα,
Kérkyra,
IPA: [ˈkʲe̞ɾkʲiɾa]; Ancient Greek: Κέρκυρα or
Κόρκυρα; Latin: Corcyra; Italian: Corfù) is a
Greek island in the Ionian Sea. It is the
second largest of the Ionian Islands,[2] and
lies off the coast of Sarandë, Albania, from
which it is separated by straits varying in
breadth from 3 to 23 km (2 to 15 mi), includ-
ing one near ancient Butrint and a longer one
west of Thesprotia. The island is part of the
Corfu Prefecture, and includes twelve of the
sixteen municipalities or communes in the
prefecture
and
over
Communities
of
Ereikoussa, Mathraki, Othonoi, and Municip-
ality of Paxoi, which are all separate islands.
The principal town (pop. 28,185) of the is-
land is also named Corfu, or Kérkyra in
Greek, as is its municipality (pop. 39,487).
Corfu is home to the Ionian University.
The island is steeped in history and peren-
nially connected to the history of Greece
from the beginning of Greek mythology. Its
Greek name, Kerkyra or Korkyra, is connec-
ted to two powerful water symbols: Poseidon,
god of the sea and Asopos, an important
Greek mainland river.[3] According to myth,
Poseidon fell in love with the beautiful nymph
Korkyra, daughter of Asopus and river nymph
Metope, and abducted her, as was the cus-
tom among gods of the era’s myths – Zeus
himself was a serial offender.[3] Poseidon
brought her to the hitherto unnamed island
and, in marital bliss, offered her name to