Lefkada

One of the Ionian Islands of Greece, 80 km/50 mi southeast of Corfu; area 293 sq km/113 sq mi; population (1993) 21,400. The main products are olive oil, currants, and wine. The principal town, Lefkada, at the northeastern corner, is capital of the Lefkada department.

The land was colonized in the 7th century BC by Corinthians, who made it an island by cutting a canal through the isthmus that joined it to the mainland. The southern point of Lefkada, Cape Doukato, has ancient dry-stone walls and the remains of a temple to Apollo.

Lefkada, which is about 30 km/19 mi long and 13 km/8 mi wide, takes its name from its rugged limestone mountains. The island has suffered from earthquakes on average once every 20 years.