Cunda used to be home to a large Greek Orthodox community. During the Muslim-Greek population exchange of 1923, most Muslims in Greece had to move to Turkey and most Greek Orthodox in Turkey had to move to Greece. |
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The Greek population on Cunda was thus replaced by Muslims from Crete. These Muslims spoke Greek, rather than Turkish, and to this day you can hear Greek being spoken on Cunda Island. |
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Sweaty after having climbed to the top of the island. That's Ayvalık in the background on the other side of the water. |
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