Paxos
Paxoi
Παξοί | |
|---|---|
Gaios Port | |
| Coordinates: 39°12′N 20°10′E / 39.200°N 20.167°E | |
| Country | Greece |
| Administrative region | Ionian Islands |
| Regional unit | Corfu |
| Area | |
• Municipality | 30.121 km2 (11.630 sq mi) |
| Population (2021) | |
• Municipality | 2,466 |
| • Density | 82/km2 (210/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+2 (EET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+3 (EEST) |
| Postal code | 490 82 |
| Area code(s) | 26620 |
| Vehicle registration | KY |
| Website | www.paxi.gr |
Paxos (Greek: Παξός) is a Greek island in the Ionian Sea, lying just south of Corfu. As a group with the nearby island of Antipaxos and adjoining islets, it is also called by the plural form Paxi or Paxoi (Greek: Παξοί, pronounced /pækˈsiː/ in English and [paˈksi] in Greek). The main town and the seat of the municipality is Gaios. The smallest of the seven main Ionian Islands (the Heptanese), Paxos has an area of 25.3 square kilometres (9.8 sq mi), while the municipality has an area of 30.121 km2 (11.630 sq mi) and a population of about 2,500.
Paxos lies some 15 km from the southern tip of Corfu and at about the same distance from the town of Parga on the mainland. It is connected by ferry lines from Igoumenitsa and Corfu with Gaios. The island is hilly, the highest point having an elevation of 230 m.
In Greek mythology, Poseidon created the island by striking Corfu with his trident, so that he and his wife Amphitrite could have some peace and quiet.