Dodecanese

Dodecanese Δωδεκάνησα
Former prefecture
Location of Dodecanese in Greece
Location of municipalities within Dodecanese Prefecture
Coordinates: 36°27′N 27°18′E / 36.45°N 27.30°E / 36.45; 27.30
Country	Greece
Periphery	South Aegean
Capital	Rhodes
Subdivisions	List 5 provinces 25 municipalities 2 communities
Area
• Total	2,714 km2 (1,048 sq mi)
• Rank	18th
Population  (2005)
• Total	200,452
• Rank	12th
• Density	74/km2 (190/sq mi)
• Rank	14th
Postal codes	85x xx
Area codes	2241-2247
ISO 3166 code	GR-81
Vehicle registration	ΚΧ, ΡΚ, PO, ΡΥ

The Dodecanese (UK: /ˌdoʊdɪkəˈniːz/, US: /doʊˌdɛkəˈniːz/; Greek: Δωδεκάνησα, Dodekánisa [ðoðeˈkanisa], lit. 'twelve islands'; Turkish: On İki Ada) are a group of 15 larger and 150 smaller Greek islands in the southeastern Aegean Sea and Eastern Mediterranean, off the coast of Turkey's Anatolia, of which 26 are inhabited. This island group generally defines the eastern limit of the Sea of Crete.^[1] They belong to the wider Southern Sporades island group.

Rhodes has been the area's dominant island since antiquity. Of the others, Kos and Patmos are historically the most important; the remaining 12 are Agathonisi, Astypalaia, Halki, Kalymnos, Karpathos, Kasos, Leipsoi, Leros, Nisyros, Symi, Tilos, and Kastellorizo. Other islands in the chain include Alimia, Arkoi, Farmakonisi, Gyali, Kinaros, Levitha, Marathos, Nimos, Pserimos, Saria, Strongyli and Syrna.