Gavdopoula (Greek: Γαυδοπούλα, [ɣavðoˈpula]) is a Greek islet in the Libyan Sea, north-west of its larger neighbour Gavdos and to the south of Crete. It is part of the municipality of Gavdos in the regional unit of Chania, Crete, and was part of the former Selino Province.
Native name: Γαυδοπούλα | |
|---|---|
 The islet of Gavdopoula | |
 | |
| Geography | |
| Coordinates | 34°53′N 24°01′E / 34.883°N 24.017°E |
| Archipelago | Cretan Islands |
| Area | 2 km2 (0.77 sq mi) |
| Administration | |
Greece | |
| Region | Crete |
| Regional unit | Chania |
| Demographics | |
| Population | 0 (2021) |
| Additional information | |
| Vehicle registration | ΧΝ |
Nature
editGavdopoula is covered with phrygana (φρύγανα) low-lying shrubs. It is an important stop for migrating birds.[1]
Important Bird Area
editBoth Gavdos and Gavdopoula have been designated by BirdLife International as an Important Bird Area (IBA) because they support resident populations of European shags and Eurasian scops owls as well as passage migrants.[2]
Proposed container shipping development
editIn 1998 the islet was the proposed site of an enormous container shipping storage facility. Environmentalists campaigned successfully to block the development and Gavdopoula is now a protected nature reserve and notably for migrating birds.[3]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ European populations of migratory birds Archived 2011-07-11 at the Wayback Machine, Natural History Museum of Crete of the University of Crete, Flora and Fauna on Gavdos, Gavdos Online Service Archived 2010-03-10 at the Wayback Machine, March 1, 2008.
- ^ "Gavdos and Gavdopoula islands, Crete". BirdLife Data Zone. BirdLife International. 2021. Archived from the original on 30 May 2023. Retrieved 27 February 2021.
- ^ "Going to Gavdos by DeTraci Regula, About.com". Archived from the original on 2014-05-02. Retrieved 2010-12-20.