Ereikoussa

Ereikoussa (Greek: Ερείκουσα , Italian: Merlera) is an island and a former community of the Ionian Islands, Greece. It belongs to Diapontia Islands, an island complex to the northwest of Corfu. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Corfu, of which it is a municipal unit. It is located off the northwestern coast of the island of Corfu, and is almost equidistant from Corfu to the southeast, Mathraki to the southwest, and Othonoi to the west. There is only one town on the island, also named Ereikoússa. Its population was 496 at the 2011 census and its land area is 3.7 square kilometres (1 sq mi). The island is rich in green forests, filled with cypress, and olive trees. It has two beaches, Porto (Πόρτο) and Braghini (Μπραγκίνι), which are two Italian originated names that were named during Venetian rule. Though Braghini is rarely used it is known to be nicer than the other beach Porto. Bragini is not used very much because it is further away from the main part of the island.