Pasas, Oinousses


Pasas or Panagia is a small Greek island of the Oinousses complex in the Aegean Sea, located east of Oinousses, the largest island of the complex. Administratively, Pasas and the rest of the islands form the Oinousses municipality within the Chios regional unit.
With an area of 2.448 km2, it is the second largest island of the complex. According to 2011 census, the island is uninhabited, although a guard of lighthouse lives often there and a military garrison is permanently stationed on it. The most notable building on the island is the old lighthouse which was built in 1863 and has a height of 8.5 meters. Since 1995, the lighthouse has been converted to solar power and it keeps a permanent staff.

Name

The island's name Pasas derives from the Ottoman-era term Pasha, while Panagia derives from the Greek name for Virgin Mary.

European migrant crisis

During the European migrant crisis, Pasas has been in the frontline of Greek islands that have witnessed the arrival of immigrants from Turkey.

Infrastructure

The island of Pasas features a lighthouse which from 1995 has been converted to solar power, a military building with a permanent army garrison, and a heliport.