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The times when Ios was only known for parties of young backpackers have gone. New hotels on Ios have changed the islands tourists and attract people from all over the world for their vacations. On the hill above Mylopotas fancy hotels with marvelous view over Ios best beach offer their services. Hotels on Ios with spa treatment have become almost regular. The Chora of Ios still has many small hotels and apartments.

Ios is one of the most well-known islands. For many, it is the island of those who feel eternally young. This statement is quite true, as Ios has been a favorite place for backpackers, wild parties and endless binge. However, today Ios has gained a new identity and quality.

Ios is located among Naxos, Sikinos, Thira and Amorgos. It is 108 square kilometers in area and the length of the coastline is 80 kilometers. It is about 108 sea miles far from Piraeus. A usual boat trip lasts about 7,5 h. High-speed boats cover the distance in half time. There is daily connection with Piraeus and the vicinal islands like Paros, Naxos, Thira, Mykonos, Sikinos, Folegandros and Crete. During high season there are more than 20 arrivals and departures per day.

Its shape resembles the parallelogram. The island is scantily watered and sparsely wooded. The ground is rocky; while its subsoil is rich in quartz, granite and mica schist, as well as some marble. The Hebrew word "Ion" means "heap of stones" and reflects one of the many theories concerning the origin of its name, which is mainly attributed to the Phoenicians. However, the most popular theory is that the name of the island derives from a kind of flowers called "ia", which grew there during antiquity.

The island has a good road network, whose some pieces were completed the last few years. More roads are being opened. There are also many paths that offer easy access to spectacular beaches and other beautiful areas. There is also a bus service, which connects the areas of the port, the Chora and Mylopota. The areas Psathi -St. Theodoti and port-Koubaras, are also covered by Ios bus service. It is possible to visit Maganari by bus, while Psathi and St. Theodoti are accessible also by boat.

From the beginning of the 19th century and until 1940, the main resources of the island were pyrites and other minerals. Until recently, animal husbandry, apiculture and agriculture and cheese-making also constituted important resources for the island. However, the last years, the exponential growth of tourism created a shift, and many habitants switched to tourist industry, building hotels and apartments on Ios.