Laganas
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Laganas Λαγανάς |
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 Laganas
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Location within the regional unit
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| Coordinates: 37°44′N 20°51′E / 37.733°N 20.850°ECoordinates: 37°44′N 20°51′E / 37.733°N 20.850°E | |
| Country | Greece |
| Administrative region | Ionian Islands |
| Regional unit | Zakynthos |
| Municipality | Zakynthos |
| • Municipal unit | 74.104 km2 (28.612 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 98 m (322 ft) |
| Population (2011) | |
| • Rural | 729 |
| • Municipal unit | 6,986 |
| • Municipal unit density | 94/km2 (240/sq mi) |
| Time zone | EET (UTC+2) |
| • Summer (DST) | EEST (UTC+3) |
Laganas (Greek: Λαγανάς) is a village and a former municipality on the island of Zakynthos, Ionian Islands, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Zakynthos, of which it is a municipal unit. The municipal unit Laganas covers the southernmost part of Zakynthos. Its municipal seat was the town of Pantokratoras (pop. 925 in 2011). The municipal unit of Laganas has a land area of 74.104 km². Its largest towns are Mouzaki (pop. 1,702), Lithakia (pop. 1,307), Pantokratoras, Kalamaki (pop. 890), Laganas (pop. 729), and Keri (pop. 469). The central and eastern part of the municipal unit are flat, but there are hills up to 450 m elevation in the west. The Zakynthos International Airport lies in the eastern part of the municipal unit, near Kalamaki. The beach village Laganas, part of the community of Pantokratoras, is on the southeastern coast. A large part of Laganas is a national park, established for the protection of turtles.
The name "Laganas" comes from the Greek word "yoke" meaning "wireybuzz", referring to the former manufacture of pottery in the area of Lithakia and Kalamaki. Laganas suffered great damage from the 1953 Ionian earthquake.
An attraction of Laganas is the migration of the loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta). Each year during the months of June, July and August the turtles migrate to the Bay of Laganas to lay their eggs on the beach. This is a protected beach which is watched over by ecologists at all times.
Laganas is a party destination in Europe for 18-30's visitors. The town has many nightclubs, restaurants and local souvenir shops. Laganas is popular among young British, Serbian, Dutch, Swedish and German tourists.
The municipal unit Laganas is subdivided into the following communities (constituent villages in brackets):
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Wikipedia