Kastellórizo

Kastellórizo is a small Greek island less than 5 km off the south coast of Turkey, about 110 km east of Rhodes. It has gone by several different names in its history, including Castellorizo, Castelrosso, and its current official name Meyísti ("Biggest"), an ironic choice since, at only 4 square miles in area, it is the smallest of the Dodecanese.

Related Topics:
Greek - Island - Km - Turkey - Rhodes - 4 square miles - Dodecanese

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The island was occupied by France 28 December 1915 (in the cruiser Amiral Charner?). Turkish shore batteries responded by shelling the island, in 1917 succeeding in sinking the HMS Ben-my-Chree.

Related Topics:
France - 28 December - 1915 - 1917 - HMS ''Ben-my-Chree''

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It was ceded to Italy in 1922. During the 1930s it was a stopover for the planes of Alitalia and Air France.

Related Topics:
Italy - 1922 - 1930s - Alitalia - Air France

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When Italy capitulated to the Allies in 1943, the island was occupied by British commandos until the middle of 1944, when German forces took over. During the British departure, a fuel dump caught fire and spread to an adjacent ammo dump, whose detonation destroyed half of the homes on the island.

Related Topics:
1943 - Commando - 1944 - Fuel dump - Ammo dump

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Kastellórizo became part of Greece in 1945. The population, once estimated at 15,000 in 1900, has dwindled to around 250, heavily subsidized so as to forestall territorial claims by Turkey. Much of the population emigrated to Australia, where they are known as "Kassies".

Related Topics:
1945 - 1900 - Australia

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The island has been more visited in recent years, by tourists looking for an isolated Dodecanese island, also thanks to the reference in the Oscar winning movie "Mediterraneo" by Gabriele Salvatores.

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