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The Terrain and Natural Environment of Crete

Crete is the largest island in Greece, accounting for the fact the Greeks often refer to it as Megalonisos, the ‘big island’. Its area o 8261 square kilometers also makes it the fifth largest island in the Mediterranean.

Crete lies in the south of the Aegean Sea, in the centre of the East Mediterranean basin, at the point where Europe, Asia and Africa meet.

It is oriented east-west and is a long and narrow island, thus explaining its ancient name Dolichi (long). On the north coast there are large bays and sandy beaches, while on the south – the side facing the Libyan Sea – the indentations of the coastline are much smaller. Souda Bay, up the north coast, is the largest natural harbor.

There are a number of islets – Ayii Theodori, Ayii Pantes, Spinalonga, Pseira and Gavdos to the south, all uninhabited save the last – scattered around its coast. Gavdos has been identified with Calypso’s island in the Odyssey.

The terrain of Crete is very variable. In the west, orange groves alternate with mountain plateaus, and in eastern Crete palm trees interrupt verdant mountain slopes on which olives and vines grow. Yet most of Crete is mountainous, with three major mountain ranges – the White Mountains, Ida Mountain (or Psiloritis) and Diktis Mountains (or the Lasithi Mountains) – crossing the entire island and rising to heights of 2500 meters.

There are mountain plateau high among the summits, fertile plains (especially inn the south) and numerous gorges. Rivers are short and few in number and there is only one lake – Lake Kourma – beautifully situated in the Prefecture of Chania (sub prefecture of Apokoronou).

Crete also has a wealth of caves. Most of them have been known since Neolithic times, when they were used as human habitations and as religious sanctuaries. The Diktaean Cave and the Idaean Cave are the most important caverns.

The climate of Crete varies sharply from the mountains down to the coast via the plains. In general, however, the climate is Mediterranean – indeed, it is the mildest and healthiest to be found anywhere in Europe. Thanks to this variety of natural and climatological features, Crete has an unusually wide range of agricultural products, many of them cultivated al year round.

The island produces olives, grapes, citrus fruits, aromatic and medicinal herbs, garden products, bananas, avocados and kiwi fruit. There are extensive forests, and flowers, bushes and herbs grow in abundance – including Cretan dittany (Origanum dictamus), whose medicinal powers have been known since ancient times.

The fauna of Crete is rich too, and can boast a unique species of wild goat (locally known as the kri-kri or agrimi), which lives in the Samaria Gorge, the ravines of the White Mountain and on the surrounding islets.

Stock-breeding and fishing play an important part in life on Crete. Sheep and goats are bred, and dairy products of exceptional quality – graviera (the Greek Gruyere), anthotyros and myzithra – are easy to find.

With a population of over 500.000, Crete is one of the ten Greek regions. It consists of four Prefectures: those of Chania (with its capital Chania), Rethymno (Rethymno), Herakleio (Herakleio) and Lasithi (Ayios Nikolaos).