Samos has a length of 476 sq.km, its coasts have a length of 78 miles and a population of about 33,000. The climate can be considered warm-mediterranean, with few rainfalls, and no periods of drought. Small brooks springing from the Ambelos mountain-chains traverse Samos, such as the ancient Imbrasos, supposedly being the holy river of the goddess Hera, or the brook of Mitilinii, Myli, Pyrgos and the ancient Chesios. On the eastern side of the island, there are springs out of which run large amounts of brackish water, forming two small artificial lakes called Glyfades. The highest mountains in Aegean lie on Samos. The highest of all is Kerkis or Kerketeus, once a volcano, with Vigla (1,450m) and Zestane (1,195m) as its highest peaks. The second important mountain is Ambelos or Karvounis, with Profitis Ilias(1,150m) as its highest peak. The mountainous ground leaves room only for small plains and valleys, where there are long olive groves, vines that produce the famous Samian wine, orange trees and other fruit-bearing trees, while the island was once popular for the cultivation of onions that gave Kokari its name. The ground of Samos is covered by bushes, rose-bays, ferns, plane-trees and osiers, while the trees mostly found are Tracheia Pefki (pine), cypresses, oaktrees, holm oaks, locusttrees, chestnut trees and, on the highest mountain spots, there are Mavropeuka (black pines). Mount Kerkis on Samos is considered one of the 113 areas with the most significant bird species worldwide. Among these species are the golden eagle, the eagle-falcon, the snake-eagle, the island-partridge and the seaeagle. Some of the migratory birds that stop for food at the watery grounds of Samos are: glaronia (seagulls), the browngoose, the alcyon, the "warriors", flamingos and "tranomouganes", while at sea one will find "rinodelfina"(a dolphin species) or "mavrodelfina" (black dolphins), the mediterranean seal and the seaturtle Kareta-Kareta. Today, Samos is one of the most hospitable parts of Greece. Cheerful, friendly and warmhearted, the Samians live a traditional lifestyle, accustomed though to the messages of modern times the tourists bring along with them.