Country and people  > Geography & Geology

Geography

Crete, one of the 13 districts of Greece and the fifth largest island in the Mediterranean, is extremely mountainous. Mountain ranges extend from one end to the other and in between them lie deep valleys, gorges and many plateaux. About 3.200 caves and grottos convey to the impression of a labyrinth.

With 2.456 m the “Timios Stavros” (Mount Idha or Psiloritis) is the highest peak in the centre of Crete. In the west (prefecture of Chania) rises the mountain range of the Lefka Ori (White Mountains). More eastern, at the western periphery of the prefecture of Lassithi there is Mount Dikte which stands at 2.148 m.

Rivers do hardly exist due to the narrowness of the island and the condition of soil, because surface water (rain water) either build torrents disgorging into the sea or is immediately seeping into the ground and caught in intramontainous basins without draining off (Plateau of Lassithi, about 850m). There are only 2 freshwater lakes on Crete, Kournas with 160.000 m2 is the biggest and most known one; the second freshwater lake Agia is located in the plain of Kydonia.

At the north coast mountain ranges alternate with small plains. Here nearly all Cretan towns are situated. The south coast mostly slopes steeply and is less populous.

Crete is the island of the gorges. The most important ones traverse the White Mountains with the gorge of Samaria exceeding all others with about 18 km length. Statistical details

Climate

The climate is Mediterranean. In winter the weather is mild and snow falls only in the higher regions. During the summer months temperature ranges from 25 to 35 degrees and the temperature of the sea from 20 to 25 degrees.

For walking tours and sightseeing the preferable travel seasons are springtime and autumn. Climatic chart

Geology

During the Palaeozoic era Crete was part of the Aegean Mainland. Tectonic processes separated Crete from the mainland plate. Rifts and dislocations have build up the 4 big mountain massifs as well as smaller mountains. Due to the subduction of the continents Africa and Europe, under Crete’s northeast the African plate is driven under the European one. Therefore Crete is situated in one of the seismically active zones of the Mediterranean area.