Greek Political Geography

The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed. Concise Dictionary of World Place-Names Further reading

Lefkás

The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed. | 2011 | Copyright

Lefkás formerly Levkás or Leucas , mountainous island (1991 pop. 19,350), c.115 sq mi (300 sq km), W Greece, in the Ionian Sea; one of the Ionian Islands . Lefkás (1991 pop. 6,344), the chief town and the capital of Lefkás prefecture, is at the northern end of the island. Olive oil, currants, wine, and tobacco are produced. The island was colonized (7th cent. BC) by Corinthians, and Corinth and Lefkás were allies in the Peloponnesian War . Lefkás later was the capital of the Acarnanian League (3d cent. BC). The island was captured (1697) from the Ottoman Turks by Venice, which held it until 1797. There are ruins of Cyclopean walls and a temple to Apollo Leukates. Sappho is said, probably falsely, to have committed suicide by plunging into the sea from a cliff of the island. Lefkás is also known as Santa Maura.

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Lefkas

Concise Dictionary of World Place-Names | 2005 | | Copyright

Lefkas (Leukás), Greece An island and a town with the name ‘White’ from the ancient Greek leuko, a reference to the hilly limestone terrain.

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JOHN EVERETT-HEATH. "Lefkas." Concise Dictionary of World Place-Names. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. 26 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

JOHN EVERETT-HEATH. "Lefkas." Concise Dictionary of World Place-Names. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. (May 26, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O209-Lefkas.html

JOHN EVERETT-HEATH. "Lefkas." Concise Dictionary of World Place-Names. 2005. Retrieved May 26, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O209-Lefkas.html

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