Laganas

Laganas Λαγανάς
Settlement
Country	Greece
Administrative region	Ionian Islands
Area
• Total	74.104 km2 (28.612 sq mi)
Highest elevation	10 m (30 ft)
Lowest elevation	0 m (0 ft)
Population  (2001)
• Total	5,894
• Density	80/km2 (210/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+2 (EET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+3 (EEST)
Website	www.laganas.gr

Laganas (Greek: Λαγανάς, alternatively called Lagana) is a town and a municipality located in the southern part of the Greek Ionian island of Zákynthos. Laganas is also located north of Keri and south-southeast of Volimes. The Municipality of Laganás has a land area of 74.104 km². Its municipal seat is the town of Pantokrátor (pop. 899). Its largest towns are Mouzáki (1,352), Lithakiá (1,185), Pantokrátor, Kalamáki (661), Laganás (543), and Kerí (487). It was created in the late-1990s under the Capodistrian Plan.

History

Its origin of the name comes from the word lagini meaning stamna in Greek (jug, pot in English) in which it still has today in the area of Lithakia and Kalamaki in the area where the waves flows by the coastline. Laganas was ruled by the Venetians until the Napoleonic Wars, it was handed to the French hands until the British invasion. During the French Rule, it became Russian and Turkish with the autonomous Septinsular Republic. Laganas as well as the rest of the Ionian Islands remained British by the subdivision, the United States of the Ionian Islands until 1864 when it finally ceded to Greece. After World War II and the Greek Civil War, its buildings were rebuilt. Laganas was hit by the terrible earthquake on August 1953 that leveled almost the entire village and the surrounding area. It took until the late-1950s and 1960 for everything to be rebuilt and connected with asphalt. Laganas built a nearby airport that serves the entire island. A national park was established for the protection of the turtles. More pavement was put in the late 20th century. The island is now better known as a party haven for young Brits, boasting over 100 different drinking venues, all confined in a small area. Laganas has a lyceum (middle school) a gymnasium (secondary school), a few churches, and a square (plateia).

Tourist Resort

Lagana beach

It is a modern place on an old style Greek island, with a high proportion of nightclubs and bars. The main attraction of Lagana is the migration of the loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta). Each year during the months of June, July and August the turtles migrate to the Bay of Laganas to lay their eggs on the beach. This is a protected beach which is watched over by ecologists at all times. Officially watersports are forbidden in Laganas bay, due to protection of the Caretta carretta turtles.

Northeast of Laganas is the island's major airport first opened in the mid 20th century. Other industries includes agriculture and services, in agriculture, its main production are olives, fruits and vegetables and other crops.

Laganas is also a popular club 18-30's destination. The main strip in Laganas consists of bars, pubs, nightclubs, restaurants and tourist shops. During the peak summer months the resort is at its busiest and popular with mainly British, Dutch, and German nationals. Popular clubs and bars include Zeros, Rescue Club, Waikiki, Mad Murphys, Cocktails and Dreams, and CherryBay. There are also a wide range of international fast food restaurants including Subway, Pizza Hut, McDonald's and KFC.

Geography

The area are surrounded by the plain of Zakynthos, the plain dominates the eastern portion and the mountains in the western portion. Forests are not common and are rarely found especially in the plain. Laganas beach is located at southern half of the island and is roughly five kilometers in length.

Transportation

Laganas is linked with the GR-35 (Zakynthos - Laganas) and is also the southernmost terminus, it rarely ends further south in Keri and the road linking to the northern part of the island including Volimes.

Population

Year	Population village	Population municipal district	Population municipality
1981	-	-	-
1991	233	-	4,303
2001	543	1,442	5,894

Nearest places

• Mouzaki, north
• Pantokratoas
• Lithakia, south

Municipal districts

• Agalas (Agalas, Ai Giannis, Ampelos, Stimies)
• Kalamaki (Kalamaki, Margaraiika, Pefkakia)
• Keri (Keri, Apelati, Limni Keriou, Marathias)
• Lithakia
• Mouzaki
• Pantokratoras (Pantokratoras, Laganas)

See also

• List of settlements in the Zakynthos prefecture

External links

• Official website Template:El icon
• Laganas (municipality) on GTP Travel Pages
• Laganas Website

	North: Artemissi
West: Ionian Sea	Laganas	East: Zakynthos and the Ionian Sea
	South: Laganas Gulf and the Ionian Sea