Chios Island:
More than 100 firefighters assisted by water-dropping helicopters and planes were battling a large wildfire burning near the main town of the eastern Aegean island of Chios recently.
- Chios Island is a Greek island situated in the Aegean Sea.
- It is the fifth-largest island in Greece, with a surface area of 842.29 sq.km.
- It is situated 5 miles (8 km) off the western coast of Turkey.
- It is about 30 miles (50 km) long north-south and from 8 to 15 miles (13 to 24 km) wide.
- It is traversed north-south by mountains culminating in Mount Pelinaíon (1,297 meters).
- The principal town of the island and seat of the municipality is Chios town.
- Chios is notable for its exports of mastic gum, and the island is also known as “the Mastic Island.”
- It is a very attractive island because of its lush vegetation, fine beaches, and unique medieval villages, which are kept in very good condition.
- It is also famously rich in history, said to be the birthplace of Homer as well as several Greek writers and politicians, and historic records date back to the Neolithic Age, and examples of Byzantine architecture can be found across the island.
