Andrew Anthony May 31, 2013

The island of long life – in pictures

Meet more of the long-lived inhabitants of Ikaria, plus some of the traditional festivals and landscapes of the island. Photographs: Eirini Vourloumis

Ikaria - in pictures: Ikaria island - secrets of the blue zone — The coast of Nas is famous for its archeological site, the temple of Artemis. Photograph: Eirini Vourloumis for the Guardian

Ikaria - in pictures: Ikaria - secrets of the blue zone — ‘Fresh air, the best climate in the world and the friendliest people I’ve ever met,’ 97-year-old Vangelis Koutis says about Ikaria. He left the island when he was 14 to join the merchant navy, but returned when he was 70. Photograph: Eirini Vourloumis for the Guardian

Ikaria - in pictures: Ikaria island - secrets of the blue zone — Vangelis Koutis, 97, in his home Photograph: Eirini Vourloumis for the Guardian

Ikaria - in pictures: Ikaria island - secrets of the blue zone — Kostas Sponas,100, seen through a window cutting bread for his lunch in his home in the village of Evdilos. Photograph: Eirini Vourloumis for the Guardian

Ikaria - in pictures: Ikaria island - secrets of the blue zone — The village of Evdilos on the north side of Ikaria. Photograph: Eirini Vourloumis for the Guardian

Ikaria - in pictures: Ikaria island - secrets of the blue zone — Yiannis Melis and Ionna Meli tend to their land in Nas. Photograph: Eirini Vourloumis/Eirini Vourloumis for the Guardian

Ikaria - in pictures: Ikaria island - secrets of the blue zone — Ioanna Melis, 80, walks through her land in Nas. Photograph: Eirini Vourloumis for the Guardian

Ikaria - in pictures: Ikaria island - secrets of the blue zone — The annual panigiri festival at St Isidoros. Photograph: Eirini Vourloumis for the Guardian

Ikaria - in pictures: Ikaria island - secrets of the blue zone — A feast of goat at the annual panigiri at St Isidoros. Photograph: Eirini Vourloumis for the Guardian

Ikaria - in pictures: Ikaria island - secrets of the blue zone — The annual panigiri at St Isidoros. Photograph: Eirini Vourloumis for the Guardian

Ikaria - in pictures: Ikaria island - secrets of the blue zone — Children from Ikaria at the annual panigiri at St Isidoros. Photograph: Eirini Vourloumis for the Guardian

Ikaria - in pictures: Ikaria island - secrets of the blue zone — Evangelia Karnava, 97, in her home in the village of Evdilos. Photograph: Eirini Vourloumis for the Guardian

Ikaria - in pictures: Ikaria island - secrets of the blue zone — A photograph of Evangelia Karnava, now 97, and her extended family. Photograph: Eirini Vourloumis for the Guardian

Ikaria - in pictures: Ikaria island - secrets of the blue zone — Gregoris Tsahas, 100, in the cafe of the village of Madrias. Photograph: Eirini Vourloumis for the Guardian

Ikaria - in pictures: Ikaria island - secrets of the blue zone — Most elderly people in Ikaria work on their land daily and eat everything they grow. Here, Yiannis Melis, 82, tends to his goats. Photograph: Eirini Vourloumis for the Guardian

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