populous of the Greek islands. The Samian climate is typically Mediterranean, with mild rainy winters, and warm rainless summers.

Samos's relief is dominated by two large mountains, Ampelos and Kerkis (anc. Kerketeus). The Ampelos massif (colloquially referred to as "Karvounis") is the larger of the two and occupies the centre of the island, rising to 1095 m. Mt. Kerkis, though smaller in area, is the taller of the two, and its summit is the island's highest point, at 1,434 m. The mountains are a continuation