Lesbos (
Greek ??sß??, also transliterated
Lesvos) is a
Greek island located in the northeastern
Aegean Sea. It has an area of 1632
km² (630
square miles) with 320 kilometres (almost 200 miles) of
coastline, making it the third largest Greek island and the largest of the numerous Greek islands scattered in the Aegean. Administratively, it forms part of the
Lesbos Prefecture. Its population is approximately 90,000, a third of which lives in its
capital,
Mytilene, in the southeastern part of the island. The remaining population is distributed in small towns and villages. The largest are
Kalloni, the
Gera Villages,
Plomari,
Agiassos,
Eresos and
Molyvos (the ancient Mythymna). Mytilene was founded in the 11th century BC by the family Penthilidae, who arrived from
Thessaly, and ruled the city-state until a popular revolt (590–580 BC) led by
Pittacus of Mytilene ended their rule.
The meaning of the word lesbian derives from the poems of Sappho, who was born in Lesbos. The poems contain powerful emotional content directed toward other women and have frequently been interpreted as expressing homosexual love.[1] It is due to this association that Lesbos and especially the town of Eresos, her birthplace, are visited frequently by lesbian tourists.[2]
The island is forested and mountainous with two large peaks, Mt. Lepetymnos (968&_160;m (3,176&_160;ft)) and Mt. Olympus (967&_160;m (3,173&_160;ft)), dominating its northern and central sections.[3] The island’s volcanic origin is manifested in several hot springs and two principal volcanic harbors.
The island is verdant, aptly named Emerald Island, with a variety of flora that belies its size. Eleven million olive trees cover 40% of the island together with other fruit trees. Forests of mediterranean pines, chestnut trees and some oaks occupy 20%, and the remainder is scrub, grassland or urban. In the western part of the island is the world’s second largest petrified forest of Sequoia.
