Paros, in the centre of the Cyclades, is the largest island in a complex that includes Antiparos, the uninhabited islands of Despotiko and Strongylos, the rocky islet of Saliago and other even smaller rocky islets. It has an area of 195 sq.km and its capital is Parikia. The island took its name from Paros, the leader of the Arcadians who in the 9th century BC settled in the area of present-day Parikia. In antiquity, Paros was also known by the names Kavarnis, Yria, Panaitia, Demetrias and Minois. Small and large bays with sandy beaches form the island’s coastline. With the exception of the mountainous massif of Prophet Elias (Mount Marpissa), the island is flat with many cultivable areas.
The subsoil is formed by metamorphic rocks, mainly marbles and slates, while the famous Parian marble is found in large deposits. The combination of the above elements has made Paros an ideal place for habitation since prehistoric times. The island is of particular environmental interest. Trees such as the tamarisk (almyriki), cedars, junipers, citrus fruits and a wide variety of bushes and shrubs thrive. The bird fauna numbers over three hundred species, with the island’s wetlands being home to many species of migratory and endemic birds, including some rare ones, such as the bush warbler, crows and the Aegean gull. The Psychopiana area is a refuge for countless moths of the species Panaxia quadripunctaria (Jersey Tiger-moth), which are endemic only to Paros and Rhodes in the Aegean, while the marine habitats around the island are home to the Mediterranean monk seal (Monachus monachus).
Bibliography PAROS Antiparos Despotiko FROM PREHISTORY TO RECENT TIMES
