Donousa

Donousa (Greek: Δονούσα) or Donoussa, also Denousa or Denoussa, Donoussa in the ancient times, Stenosa or Spinosa. of the foreign ship of the 19th century (Luigi Lamberti: Portolano del Mare Mediterraneo, Livorno 1856 vol. 2 pg. 286) along with Amorgos is one of the easternmost islands in the Cyclades.

Donousa is located about 25 km (14 nmi) north of Amorgos (Katapola) and 7 km (4 nmi) from the Makaries islands as well as 15 km (8 nmi) east of the island of Naxos. The area is only 14 km² and are made up of mountains, hills, rocks and some bushes with a diameter of 5 km with the highest point being 385 m and with only 110 inhabitants. Most of its forests are in Donoussa. Donousa has a small port having ferry routes to Naxos and Amorgos.

The population was 235 in 1928, 250 in 1946 and the population today declined down to only around 110. The later years saw the island rise in tourism which has visitors heading to and from Naxos and Amorgos.

In antiquity green marble was exported from the island, whence Vergil calls the island viridis. Under the Roman emperors it was used as a place of banishment.

Donousa

Donoussa had downward its importance in the political activity of Greece in the 1850s for the news that the inhabitants knew the expulsion of Otto fourteen years later when King George I visited the island.

Later, it was important as well in the history of the First World War due to anthraxation hidden in the mountains near cape Aspro for the English and French warships and was later detained after the war.

Division of the community of Donousa (population 163)

• Donousa / Κ.δ. Δονούσας [ 163 ]
  
  • Donousa / η Δονούσα [ 137 ]
    
  • Agia Paraskevi (island) / η Αγία Παρασκευή (νησίδα) [ 0 ]
    
  • Kalotaritissa / η Καλοταρίτισσα [ 5 ]
    
  • Machaires (island) / οι Μαχαίρες (νησίδα) [ 0 ]
    
  • Mersini / η Μερσίνη [ 19 ]
    
  • Skylonisio (island) / το Σκυλονήσιο (νησίδα) [ 0 ]
    
  • Strongyli (island) / η Στρογγυλή (νησίδα, Κ.δ. Δονούσας) [ 0 ]
    
  • Charavgi / η Χαραυγή [ 2 ]

Historical population

A British battleship wreck is not far from the Kedros beach.

Donoussa can be reached by a boat from Amorgos or Naxos (at a distance of 14 and 8 nautical miles respectively)

Donoussa has school, a church, a port and a square (plateies).

Greek Islands