Geology
Crete was formed by the movements of the earth's tectonic plates. Simply put, many milions of years ago a huge area of ocean opened up between the Eurasian and African plates. Crete, with most of Greece, was intermittently submerged under the sea. Tha land mass finally rose again as the two plates moved toward each other, producing the Hellenic Island Arc, of which Crete is part.
The shifting of tectonic plates has created faults and gorges and caused the elevation, subsidence and collapse of land. Further tectonic up thrust, earthquakes, weather and erosion have all continued to shape the structure of the island as we see it today.
The mountains dominate the landscape with four massifs, each formed with a limestone core; the White Mountains of the west, Psiloritis in central Crete and the Dikti and Thripti Mountains of the east. Psiloritis peaks at 2456m, with the highest summit of the White Moutains a close second at 2452 m. The Dikti and Thripti mountains reach heights of 2148m and 1476m respectively. These high ranges are linked by smaller mountains and hills, valleys and plains.
Crete has a number of mountain plateaux, the most well known being the high, fertile plain of Lassithi situated at over 850m. There are over 100 gorges on the island, many of them concentrated in the province of Sfakia, including Samaria, at 18km the longest gorge in Europe. Some of the shorter gorges are no less spectacular. It is said that there are over 3000 caves and caverns, many of which are unexplored, while others have been used as sanctuaries in the past, or had sacred gignificance.
More than 50% of Crete is mountainous and the terrain defines the island. Relatively small distance can take hours to transverse. A journey from west to east, a distance of 260km, will take as mush as 6 hours, even with the benefit of a modern, major highway. The terrain has also played a significant part in the islands history overmany centuries of invasion and occupation. Cretan's have used the landscape to clever advantage, exploiting their knowledge of caves, gorges and the high mountains, to the full.
Read Also:
-
TheHotel.gr has started co-operation with Best Cars rental, a local car rental company with a great variety of elegant and nice cars with good prices and personalised customer service. Car rentals in Heraklion airport and in Chania are airport are provided.
More...
-
Villa Cacasa is a just renovated 4-bedroom Villa with a private pool, in the tranquil small village of Choumeri, 4.5 km from the town of Perama, 10 km from the nearest sandy beach, and 30 km from the picturesque town of Rethymno.
More...
-
En fortræffelig gruppe med tre villaer med 3 soveværelser, med privat pool og vidunderlig havudsigt, tilbydes på toppen af bakken Bali, 35 km ffra Heraklion, 35 km fra den charmerende by Rethymnon og 800 m fra sandstranden.
More...
-
Aposperitis Houses er en gruppe på fem 1-værelses traditionelle lejligheder med en fælles pulje, som er placeret i den rolige landsby Drosia i et område med højeste naturlige skønhed og ro.
More...
-
Villa Electra er en luksus 3-værelses villa med privat pool og fantastisk udsigt over havet, medlem af den moderne gruppe af Ocean Luxury Villas. Villaen er beliggende 7 km øst for landsbyen Bali, 35 km fra Rethymno og Heraklion, og ca. 800 m fra sandstranden.
More...
-
Villa Melissa is a luxury, elegant 3-bedroom villa with a lovely private pool and gorgeous sea views, which is located about 2 km away from the seaside village of Bali and 1700 meters from a wonderful sandy beach. It is located 24 km east of the town of Rethymno, and 43 km west of Heraklion.
More...
-
Okeanides Villa Kalypso is a luxury 3-bedroom villa with a private pool and gorgeous sea and sunset views, the middle of the modern Okeanides Villas in Bali. The villa is located 7 km east of the village of Bali, 35 km from Rethymno and Heraklion, and approximately 800 meters away from a sandy beach.
More...
-
Villa Pitho er en moderne, havudsigt 3-værelses villa med privat pool, den vestligste af de Ocean Luxury Villas. Det ligger 7 km fra landsbyen Bali, mellem Rethymno og Heraklion. En dejlig, remote sandet kan findes omkring 800 meter væk.
More...
-
Manolioudis Villas Bali is a small group of two lovely 3-bedroom villas, Melissa and Helios, one next to another. Every Villa has a private pool and it offers lovely sea views! They are located about 2 km away from the famous, seaside village of Bali and 1700 meters from the most beautiful sandy beach.
More...
-
Villa Dioni er en moderne villa med 3 soveværelser, der er beliggende 250 m fra Ocean Luxury Villas. En sandstrand og et værtshus kan findes på en kort gåafstand, kun inden for 750 meter. Mange restauranter og en længere, mere travlt sandstrand kan findes på 7 km, i den smukke landsby Bali.
More...