Itháki

Itháki (ēthä'kē) [key]or Ithaca (ith'uku) [key], island (1991 pop. 3,082), c.37 sq mi (96 sq km), W Greece, one of the Ionian Islands. It is mountainous, rising to c.2,650 ft (810 m) at Mt. Anoyi, and has little arable land. The chief products are olive oil, currants, and wine. The main town is Itháki (1991 pop. 1,714), located on the island's east coast. The island is traditionally celebrated as the home of Odysseus. Cyclopean walls and remains of a Corinthian colony (c.8th cent. B.C.) have been found. In 1953, Itháki was devastated by a tsunami.

The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th ed. Copyright © 2007, Columbia University Press. All rights reserved.

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