Place - History of Kalymnos

Η Kalymnos is the fourth largest island of Dodecanese with 120 sq. km., third in population with 16.000 inhabitants and is surrounded by several small islands - one of them is Imia - of which Telendos and Pserimos are inhabited. Kalymnos is the island of sponges. Such an endangered naval profession, brought to the island wealth, prosperity, per diems, fame, knowledge from other places but also pain and suffering for the loss of so many people and thus formed a society with very special characteristics including the pride and strength of its inhabitants. .

In Nautical Museum of Kalymnos one will know in detail and in particular the sponge fishing activity of Kalymnos that is lost in the depths of the centuries.

In 1869 the diving suit and brings the revolution in sponge fishing but also many accidents with the disease of divers that leaves many disabled and causes several deaths.

Η sponges caused a growth in Kalymnos, with an increase in population from 5.000 in 1825 to 23.000 in 1912. Sponge fishing continued after World War II until 1962 when Egypt and Libya in 1972 banned sponge fishing in their territorial waters and so the Greeks were slaughtered. these rich seabeds.

Pothia vasta, built in the port that floats in the East, built amphitheatrically of the bay, preserves memories from the golden age.

Kalymnos in recent years is looking for its way as an alternative tourism destination and is considered the No1 climbing destination in the world and it is like the Mecca of climbing. Every year it is visited by 10.000 climbers with an average of 8 days stay, ie Kalymnos secures 80.000 nights a year from the climbers.