Crete
Crete is the largest and most populous island in Greece and the fifth largest in the Mediterranean, after Sicily, Sardinia, Cyprus and Corsica. Its capital and largest city is Heraklion, which is the seat of the region of Crete that includes neighboring islands and islets. With a population of 617,360 inhabitants, about 160 km south of the Greek mainland and extending from west to east, it is bordered to the north by the Cretan Sea and to the south by the Libyan Sea. It is an important part of the economy and cultural heritage of Greece, preserving its own cultural elements. During the years 3000 BC–1400 BC, the Minoan civilization, the oldest civilization in Europe, flourished on the island, with its main centers being Knossos, Phaistos, Malia, Zakros and Gournia where palatial complexes were found.
Crete is located at the southern end of the Aegean Sea and covers an area of 8,336 sq. km. Its permanent population is 623,065 inhabitants, while the real, de facto, 682,928 according to the 2011 census. It is about 260 km long and varies in width from a maximum of 60 km, from Cape Dion to Cape Lithino, to a minimum of 12 km on the isthmus of Ierapetra in eastern Crete. Its coastline has a deep geographical dismemberment, which presents Crete with more than 1,000 kilometers of coastline.
The island is extremely mountainous with three main mountain ranges, the White Mountains (2454 m. ), Psiloritis (Ida) (2456 m. ) and Dikti (Lassithi Mountains) (2148 m. ) which cross it in order from west to east. Additional mountains are those of Thripti (1476 m) to the east, the Asterousia Mountains (1231 m) to the south. To the north of the prefecture of Rethymno rise the Talaia Mountains (1088 m. ) as well as the autonomous mountain Kentro (1777 m. ) in the same prefecture.
In these mountains there are fertile plateaus, such as Omalos in the White Mountains, Nida in Ida and Lassithi, and Katharo in Dikti. On the island there are important caves such as the Dikteon and the Idaean cave. The main morphological feature of Crete is the imposing gorges such as the famous Samaria Gorge, the Imbros Gorge, the Gorge of Ha, the Gorge of Myloi, as well as the Kourtaliotiko Gorge.
Crete belongs to the Mediterranean climatic zone that gives its main climatic character, which is characterized as temperate. The atmosphere can be quite humid, depending on the proximity to the sea. The winter is quite mild and wet, with a lot of rainfall, for the most part, in the western parts of the island. Snowfall is rare in the lowlands, but quite common in the highlands. During the summer, the average temperature ranges from 25 to 30 degrees Celsius, certainly lower than that of mainland Greece. The south coast, including the plain of Messara and the Asterousia Mountains, enjoys more sunny days and higher temperatures during the summer than the rest of the island. The flora of the island is threatened by the gradual development of animal husbandry.
The main mammals of the island are the badger (arkalos in Cretan), the weasel, the zurida (petrokounavo), the hedgehog, the shrew, the myoxus, various species of mice and rats and many species of bat. Also, the waters of Crete are home to a large number of marine mammals, such as sperm whales, whales, dolphins and Mediterranean monk seals. The skies of Crete are home to a large number of birds of prey, most notably endangered vultures and golden eagles, as well as the largest number of vultures in Europe. Also, the coasts of the island are an important refuge for loggerhead sea turtles or leatherback turtles. Also on the island are bred the indigenous Messaritic horse and the indigenous Cretan Hound. While the endemic wild goat of Crete, Kri-Kri, lives free in the mountains.
In addition to animals, there are many endemic plant species, even in stenoendemic form, that is, found isolated in limited areas, such as Malotira (Siderites syrioca). In Crete there are hundreds of species of orchids, which are a pole of attraction for plant lovers and researchers. Also known are the herbs of Crete, such as dittany and red tulip, which is now found in many places. The plants of Crete have been the subject of attraction and systematic study by travelers since at least the time of Tournefort (early 18th century) with the basic idea of uniqueness and endemicity. These ideas today also produce an element of cultural pride and are widely found in Crete, especially in mountainous areas such as Sfakia where many of these endemic varieties are found.
Plants and especially the property of wild and endemic species to withstand mountainous conditions (drought, altitude, wind, etc. ) are also found in mantinades and other representations through which modern Cretans talk about their own life and the characteristics of each region as they distinguish it from other areas.