Our Environment

Where has all the water gone?

Today my comments come from Paros. Almost all the islands in the Cyclades we have visited do not have their own supply of fresh water. How do they manage?

In my wandering around the main town here on Paros I cam across these dry canals and many other examples of well built water supply areas – when and why were they built?

Paros, with its dramatic landscape and fertile plains, embodies all that is associated with the Greek islands. Composed mainly of marble, the island rises out of the central Aegean to its peak at 771 meters above sea level.

Paros has been inhabited since at least 4000BC and is famous for its almost translucent marble. Some of the famous statues from Parian marble are the Venus de Milo, the Victory of Samothrace and the Hermes of Praxiteles.

So water must have been around millenia ago – where has it gone? When did the climate change here?

I’d be interested to hear your views……

Water shortgae on Paros?

Sifnos under a clear blue sky

Today we are on Sifnos – another island full of beauty. As World Environment Day approaches (Friday 5 June) I have been pondering the widespread use of wind and solar power on the islands we have sailed to so far. By comparison in Australia we are nowhere near as clever with using the resources of nature available to us.

Wind power in Greece is set to expand by 352% by 2010 to meet the European target of 20% coverage of energy needs from renewable sources.
Greece chose to invest primarily to wind power by 77%, while the rest of renewable sources altogether comprise the remaining 23% of production with hydroelectric power being second with 11%.

Solar energy is commonly used in the isalnds

Look at the sign on the wallof this cafe on Sifnos. Solar and wind generated power are used everywhere in the Greek islands.

Australia could really take a leaf out of their book. Does our coal
abundance make us so scared to admit there are other ways to power our
lives?