Kinaliada will fascinate you with its natural beauty. The origin of the word Kinaliada means the island with henna in Turkish. The island got its name because the maquis used to have a reddish appearance. Today, the island has three main hills: Cinar Hill, Tesvikiye Hill, and Monastir Hill.
The first thing that will attract your attention here will be the giant radio and television antennas located on Cinar Hill. These antennas have become a distinctive silhouette of the island. However, considering the natural structure of the island, you will find that woodlands are rare here. Its rocky structure prevented trees from growing here. In fact, during the Byzantine period, stones were quarried from the rocks here and used in the construction of the walls of Istanbul.
Throughout history, Kinaliada has been known for its calmness and natural beauty. In the past, it was a more isolated place than other islands due to the lack of basic services such as water and electricity. However, this changed when electricity came to the island in 1946 and then water in 1981. The first inhabitants of the island were Armenians, and it is known as the island where they lived during the Ottoman period. However, with the start of ferry services to the Islands in 1846, Greeks and Turks also began to settle here.
The population of Kinaliada did not exceed a few hundred people for many years. However, with new settlements, the winter population reached 2000. In the summer months, the number of people visiting the island varies between 20 and 30 thousand.
Finally, because Kinaliada is easily accessible, it is considered the most suitable for swimming among the Princes’ Islands. So, it attracts the attention of many people.
As you can see, Kinaliada is an island that will fascinate you with its natural beauty and rich history. Now, you can start walking around to enjoy this beautiful island.