Sfaktiría

island, Greece

Also known as: Sphacteria

Written by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

July 18, 2026

Quick Summary

Sfaktiría is a historic island in Greece that serves as a natural breakwater for the Bay of Navarino in the southwestern Peloponnese. This bay is a nearly landlocked inlet of the Ionian Sea and is known for its safety as an anchorage.1

Sfaktiría was the site of an engagement during the Peloponnesian War. The Bay of Navarino itself was the location of a pivotal naval battle in 1827, where the combined fleets of Great Britain, France, and Russia defeated the Turko-Egyptian fleet, which was crucial in securing Greece's independence.1

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

3 Britannica Sources

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.

Bay of Navarino
The historic island of Sfaktiría (Sphacteria), scene of an engagement in the Peloponnesian War, functions as a giant breakwater for the bay’s inner lagoon or shipping lane, leaving a broad channel on the south and the Sikiás Channel on the north. The bay is one of the safest anchorages…
Read More
The historic island of Sfaktiría (Sphacteria), scene of an engagement in the Peloponnesian War, functions as a giant breakwater for the bay’s inner lagoon or shipping lane, leaving a broad channel on the south and the Sikiás Channel on the north. The bay is one of the safest anchorages…
Read More