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General information
Samos' neighbours Asia Minor and is separated from Turkey only by the narrow Straits of Mykali. From the north coast of the island you can see Turkey everywhere. Samos is one of the larger Greek islands. The surface mounts up to 474 km2, with a length of 45 and a width of 20 km. The island is mountaineous: there are two large mountain-chains, the Kérkis (1437 M.) and the Ambélos (1150 M.). From the latter one has a good view on Agios Konstandínos and surroundings. The island has lots of forests and is not like most other Greek islands barren and rocky. Only where there have been large bushfires, like around the capital, the city of Samos or Vathí and in the environment of Marathókambos it looks desolate and deserted. Particularly the north coast of the island has a luxuriant vegetation with all kinds of trees, alternated with vineyards. One finds plains between the two mountains near Karlóvasi and in the south near Chóra, where also the airfield is located. Here you find lemon- and olive trees, dispersed with vineyards.
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Beaches
Samos has beaches in abundance. Usually in sheltered bays, where the wash of the waves is broken and the water warms up faster in springtime. The beaches at the north coast are without exception flint beaches; at the south coast you find some magnificent sand beaches (near Votsalákia and Psilí Ámmos). East of Agios Konstandínos lie three magnificent flint beaches, Tsamboú, Tsamadoú and Lemonákia. Beach-chairs can be rented, but in springtime one can use them mostly free of charge. West of Karlóvasi you find three beautiful flint beaches: Potámi, Mikró Seitáni and Megálo Seitáni. The last two can be reached only on foot or by boat. By car it takes three quarters of an hour to get at the other side of the island - to Votsalákia where there are some magnificent sand beaches. There you are also less bothered by clouds hanging around the summits of Ambelos or Kerkis. Flint beaches have pros and cons: no sand, which sticks to your body and your hair and no towels or cloths full of sand. But it is incontestably true: one can walk better on sand than on pebbles. If it bothers you too much, carry bath shoes. In springtime the sea is still very fresh, but if one has mustered up enough courage, it feels wonderful.
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