GeographyPetulia Island is only 5.5

Geography

Petulia Island is only 5.5 kilometres long and 1.5 kilometres at its widest point. It lies in the middle of Lake Donika, and is 3,900 metres above sea level. Petulia has had a small number of inhabitants for over four centuries. It now has a population of 1,500 people. It has no roads, no cars or bicycles, and no electricity. The sun is extremely hot during the day but temperatures at night regularly fall well below freezing. The water of Lake Donika is 10 degrees Celsius all year round.

The past

Until recently, the island was separate from the outside world. Before the introduction of motorboats in the 1970s, travelling from Petulia to the nearest port could take over 20 hours. This journey was therefore made only once a year in order to buy salt. Motorboats have now cut the journey time to three hours, bringing new trade and tourists to Petulia.

Farming

Petulia is divided into six farming areas. Each farmer owns one piece of land in each of the six areas and grows vegetables, potatoes and cereal. Every year, farmers leave a different piece of land unplanted to allow the earth to rest. Cows and sheep are kept here during this time to improve the soil. The food grown by each farmer is shared by everyone: none is for sale. Petulia's farming year is divided into wet and dry seasons. Ihe wet season is the busiest time. All land is dug by hand, using spades. In the dry season between July and August, the islanders have time to build new houses, repair stone walls and make clothes. Men knit traditional clothes from wool that is prepared by the women.

Education

Petulia has a well-equipped primary and secondary’ school. There is a good-sized sports field, but instead of playing football the boys usually choose to knit, like their fathers, while the girls make wool. Walking along the rough tracks of the island, tourists often see small children on their way to and from school.

Visitors

Petulia has a tourist industry but the people have kept their traditional customs. They recently voted against a hotel development plan, so there will be no hotels on the island. Instead, tourists are placed with a family as guests. Ihe money earned by each family is, like all money on the island, equally divided. During the dry seaso