Lesbos

Geography

Lesbos is largely mountainous and rugged, with Mount Olympus, distinct from the mainland peak of the same name, the highest at 968 m. The island has two large gulfs that nearly bisect it from the south. The Petrified Forest of Lesvos in the west, a UNESCO Global Geopark, holds fossilized tree trunks roughly 20 million years old.

Culture

Mytilene, the capital, sits on the east coast facing Turkey. The poet Sappho was born here in the 7th century BCE, and the modern English term “lesbian” derives from the island’s name.

History

Lesbos hosts some of the oldest olive groves in Greece, with cultivation dating back to antiquity. Olive oil and ouzo remain principal exports.