Corfu

(kor-foo',) one of the Ionian Islands, kingdom of Greece, off the S. coast of Albania; bet. Lat. 39° 20′ and 39° 50′ N., and Lon.19° 35′ and 20° 6' E. It is separated from the mainland by a narrow strait called the Channel of Corfu. The island is 41 m. in length, and 20 in breadth. Area, 227 sq. m. Surface, hilly; highest summit, St. Salvador, 2,979ft. above sea-level. Prod. Olive-oil in vast quantities. C. Corfu. This island is the anc. Corcyra, and has been an important colony and naval rendezvous of the Corinthians, the Byzantines, the Normans, the Venetians, and the English. Pop. 74,138. -A city and seaport on the E. side of the above island, of which it is the C., is fortified, and has a safe and commodious harbor. Pop. 25,000. [s. 229]