Abstract:

The main purpose of this paper, is to study the coastal morphology of the five largest islands in the Ionian Sea (Zante, Kefallinia, Ithaki, Leukas, Corfu) located in Western Greece, in relation to lithology, tectonic characteristics, general seismotectonic regime and marine processes of the area, and finally to locate sites of possible future coastal retreat. The predominant lithological formation of the coasts of Zante, Kefallinia, Ithaki and Leukas, is the carbonate rocks. The shores of Corfu island are composed mainly of Neogene and Quaternary formations. The morphology of the steep coastline is determined in general by offshore normal faults having NW-SE and N-S directions and the relief steepness is intensified by the high resistivity of the calcareous formations. The low relief coasts are common in areas where Quaternary deposits are dominant. Data derived from aerial and satellite images, large scale maps and detailed fieldwork mapping were treated by GIS. The upper coastal zone limit was extended up to the 20m contour line. A coastal hazard map was developed focusing on erosion prone areas. The most vulnerable were found to be the western coasts of Leukas, south Kefallinia, north Ithaki and north Corfu. Landslides and rockfalls are especially risky in western Leukas, northern Corfu and southern
Kefallinia.