The Cyclades are comprised of around 220 islands, including Ándros?, Ios?, Kéa?, Kithnos?, Mílos?, Mykonos?, Náxos?, Páros?, Serifos?, Tínos? and Santorini (Thira) are important. Ermoupolis, on Síros?, is the chief town and administrative center of the group.
The terrain of the islands is largely mountainous, and the climate is generally dry and mild. Agricultural produce includes wine, fruit, wheat, olive oil, and tobacco.
In recent decades the Cyclade islands have become extremely popular with European and other tourists, and as a result there have been problems with erosion, pollution and water shortages.