Ro, Greece

Ro
Native name: Ρω
The island of Rho seen from WNW
Geography
Coordinates 36°09′19″N 29°29′50″E / 36.15528°N 29.49722°E / 36.15528; 29.49722
Archipelago Dodecanese
Area 1.6 km2 (0.62 sq mi)
Highest elevation 20 m (70 ft)
Administration
Greece
Region South Aegean
Regional unit Rhodes
Demographics
Population 0 (2011)
Additional information
Official website www.megisti.gr
The grave of the Lady of Ro

Ro or Rho (Greek: Ρω) is a small Greek island in the eastern Mediterranean Sea near Kastellorizo, close to the Turkish coast. It is part of the municipality of Megísti (Kastellorizo), in the South Aegean region.

Description

Together with other islets in the surrounding region, Ro was the object of a sovereignty dispute in the 1920s between Turkey and Italy, which at the time was in possession of Kastellorizo and the Dodecanese islands. The dispute was solved in a 1932 treaty, which assigned Ro to the Italian side. It finally came under Greek sovereignty in 1947, together with the other former Italian possessions in the Aegean.

The islet is named Kara Ada ("black island") in Turkish.

History

Ro has been uninhabited for most of history, except for the one Greek woman, with her husband and her mother, who made it famous, Despina Achladioti. Every day, Achladioti, also known as the Lady of Ro, raised a Greek flag, over the island, until her death in 1982.[1]

A small Greek military unit is now based on the island, with the primary duty of continuing the tradition of raising the flag, set by the "Lady of Ro", Despoina Achladioti. According to the 2011 census the island has no permanent residents.[2].

In April 10, 2018, Greek soldiers fired warning shots at Turkish helicopter approaching the island. The helicopter was flying at a very low altitude late at night with its navigation lights switched off.[3]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Chroniko tou Eikostou Aiona (Chronicle of the 20th century), ed. 4E, Athens, 1990, p. 1258.
  2. ↑ "Greek Population Census, 2011". Retrieved 25 January 2014.
  3. ↑ Greek soldiers fire warning shots at Turkish helicopter in Aegean Sea amid growing tensions
  • Kalliopi Bairami, "Ro" in: Andreas Vlachopoulos (ed.), Archaiologia: Nisia tou Aigaiou, Melissa 2005, p. 375.
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