Salina Island
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Salina Island - (Surface area: 26.8 sq. kms.)
Salina is the ancient Didyme (= twin), name derived from the shape of the island: two reliefs separated by a saddle. The present name originates from a coastal lake which once was utilised as a "salt-pan". It is situated along the
Lingua point; it has a depth of a few metres and an extent of almost two hectares. The coastal cordons encircling it are formed by the strong marine currents which cross the channel between Salina and Lipari.
The Salina Island has an almost trapezoidal form and a total coastal area of 24 square Kms. In the archipelago group Salina Island occupies second place as regards extent and the number of inhabitants; it holds first place, instead, with regard to the fertility of the soil. From an administrative point of view one must point out that, whilst the other Aeolian islands form one single commune, i.e. that of Lipari, the Salina Island alone is divided into three communes and namely those of Santa Marina Salina, Malfa and Leni.
The Salina Island is made of two mountain ranges - to the East, M. Fossa delle Felci and M. Rivi, connected between them by a ridge; to the West Monte dei Porri connected by a saddle from which depart, to the North towards Malfa, the valley of Gavite, to the South towards Rinella, the Vallonazzo. Almost in the mean line, oriented North-South, the depression of Valdichiesa separates the two mountain ranges. Three main geological formations make up the island: two of the Pleistocene (Middle Pleistocene) and one of the Wurm Age. A great gaping crater to the East on the sea, whose summit is Monte dei Rivi, characterizes the first of these formations; the Mount Fossa delle Felci, subsequently formed through powerful lava effusions, ejections of scorie, deposits of tuffs and breccia, covering a large section of the Southern side of Monte dei Rivi, reppresents the second. The crater of Mount Fossa delle Felci has a diameter of about 500 m and makes up, though partly eroded, one of the most evident shapes of all the Archipelago; the third, of the Wurm Age, is made of one volcanic cone: Monte dei Porri. On the Western side an ample crater opens, only partly preserved, the bottom of which makes up an inclined plateau from 50 to 100 metres on which the built-up area of Pollara is situated.
At Salina Island, there is tourist accommodation available in hotels, farm holiday, farmhouse, residence self-catering accommodation, b&b, rooms for rent, holiday homes, camp sites and tourist villages.
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Aeolian Islands
