Dionysades island group

Coordinates: 35°21′11″N 26°10′26″E

The Dionysades or Gianysades is a small group of islands off Sitia on the northeast coast of Crete. The group includes the islands Gianysada, Dragonada, Paximada, and Paximadaki. Administratively this group comes within the Sitia municipality in Lasithi Prefecture. The islands of Dionysades are all uninhabited. The vegetation on the islands is mainly low-lying shrubs. The largest of the islands and the opposite Cretan coastline consist of steep cliffs.
This island group is part of an environmentally protected area with many rare plants and animals including the falcon, Falco eleonorae, which finds sanctuary here.

Falco Eleonorae, illustrated by NAUMANNThese islands were once a place of worship of the ancient Greek god Dionysus. Archaeologists have found artifacts, from ancient and early Christian eras, indicating that the islands may have been inhabited in the past.

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