Gökçeada
Just north of the entrance to the Dardanelles, rugged, sparsely populated Gökçeada (Heavenly Island) is one of only two inhabited Aegean islands belonging to Turkey.
Measuring 13km from north to south and just under 30km from east to west, it is by far the nation’s largest island. Gökçeada is a fascinating place, with some dramatic scenery packed into a small area, and a Greek feel to it throughout. It’s a great place to escape to after visiting Gallipoli.
Gökçeada was once a predominantly Greek island called Imbros. During WWI it was an important base for the Gallipoli campaign, indeed, Allied commander General Ian Hamilton stationed himself at the village of Aydıncık (then Kefalos) on the island's southeast coast.
Alomg with its smaller island neighbour to the south, Bozcaada, Gökçeada was retained by the new Turkish Republic in 1923 but was exempted from the population exchange. However in the 1960s when the Cyprus conflict flared up, the Turkish gowerment put pressure on local Greeks, who numbered about 7000, to leave; today only a few hundred pensioners remain.
Gökçeada's inhabitants mostly earn a living through fishing, sheep- and cattlerearing, farming the narrow belt of fertile land around Gökçeada town, and tourism.
Apart from its semideserted Greek villages, olive groves and pine forests, the island boasts fine beaches and craggy hills. Unlike Bozcaada, it is a rare example of an Aegean island that hasn't been overtaken by tourism and because it is a military base, will hopefully stay that way.
Beaches
The sand beach at Aydıncık is the best on the island, and is adjacent to Tuz Gölü (Salt lake). Further west on the stunningly picturesque southeast coast, there are smaller beaches at Kapıkaya and Uğurlu.
Windsurfing
Aydıncık beach and Tuz gölü, respectively offering flat water and waves, are popular for windsurfing and kitesurfing. Ice Angels (iceangels-club.com) offers equipment rental (per hour/day TL25/50 and tuition (one hour from TL40).
Gökçeada - Sleeping & Eating
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