Syra

Syra (Gr. Syros), the most important, though not the largest of that group of islands in the Ægean Sea known as the Cyclades (see GREECE). It is about 10 miles long by 5 broad, has an area of $42\backslash frac\{1\}\{2\}$ sq. m., and is bare, rocky, and not very fertile. Its prosperity is of quite modern growth. During the War of Independence Syra remained neutral, hence many fugitives of commercial enterprise flocked thither from Chios and other parts of Greece. Pop. of island, 33,000. The capital, Syra, or Hermoupolis (pop. 23,000), is situated on a bay on the east side of the island. It rises terrace-wise from the shore, is well built, and is the seat of government for the Cyclades, and the seat of a Roman Catholic bishop. This port is the chief commercial entrepôt of the Ægean. Every year it imports, principally manufactured wares (one-third of total), lides, grain and flour, yarns, timber, iron, salt-fish, rice, and coal to the average value of £1,210,500 (£685,650 supplied by Great Britain), and exports tobacco, emery-stone, valonia, sponges, and fresh vegetables to the average value of £103,280.