Zourafa
Zourafa or Ladoxera is an uninhabited Greek islet rock in the Aegean Sea, east of Samothrace, and north of Imbros. It lies at the northeastern tip of the Thracian Sporades, and is administratively part of the regional unit of Evros. Its total area is only and the total length of the coastline . It has been part of the protected areas of the pan-European program NATURA since 2011.
Name
The name of the rock is first attested in a 1521 map by the Turkish explorer Piri Reis in the form of Zurafa Kaya, which means 'Giraffe Rocks'. Variations of the same name are Sgorafa or Tzourafa.The name Ladoxera seems to derive from the presence of oily waters and the smell of oil. Its alternate name, Ladoxera "oil reef", was given to it by sailors who would often spot oil slicks around Zourafa.
In a Flemish map of 1585 it is called Halonesus, while in Venetian in the 1690s it appears to be referred to as Holonisus.
Geography
Zourafa is located east of Skepasto, the northeastern tip of the island of Samothrace, and from Alexandroupoli. It has an estimated area of and measures in circumference. Zourafa has been gradually reduced in size by erosion. It peaks out of a long underwater ledge, remnant of a volcanic island. Sailors are cautioned about navigating in the vicinity of Zourafa.Zourafa is part of Greece, and there is a lighthouse on the island. In 2011, it was reported in Greek press that Turkey had started questioning the issue of treaties over the islet, however it is unclear if this is official Turkish policy.