Crete Holidays… The Greek Pearl Crete, A Fantastic Destination!
The island of Crete, with a population of around 650,000 in the year 2007, is one of the thirteen zones into which Greece is divided. Crete forms the main isle in Greece and the second biggest (just after Cyprus) in the eastern Mediterranean. The area has an elongated shape: it spans 260 kilometer from east to west, is 62 kilometer at its widest place, and narrows to as little as 11 kilometers. The island of Crete covers an area of 8,400 km2, which has a shoreline well over 1,000 km.
Towards the north, it broaches the Sea of Crete; to the south, the Libyan Sea; in the west, the Myrtoan Sea, and all the way to the eastern side the Karpathion Sea. The island of Crete lies close to 160 km south of the Greek mainland.
Crete is quite mountainous, which becomes instantaneously obvious whenever you step on the island, and its particular character is defined by a high mountain range crossing from west to east, shaped by about three different groups of mountains. Some of these are the next few in random arrangement: The White Mountains or Lefka Ori (2,450 meters); the Idi Range (2,455 meters); the Dikti Mountains (2,150 meters); Kedros (1,775 meters) and Thripti (1,490 meters).
All these mountains blessed Crete with fertile plateaux, for instance Lasithi, Omalos as well as Nidha; caverns, like Diktaion and Idaion; and gorges, such as the well-known gorge of Samaria. The protected part of the Samaria Gorge is the home of kri-kri, while Cretan mountains and gorges seem to be refuges for the endangered vulture Lammergeier.
There are a variety of rivers on Crete, such as the Ieropotamos River on the southern part of the island.
The south coast, including the Mesara Plain and Asterousia Mountains, is catagorized in the North African climatic area, and thus enjoys significantly more sunny days and high temperatures throughout the entire year. In southern Crete, date palms produce fresh fruit, and swallows remain year-round rather than migrate to Africa.
In case you would like to see Crete, book your own trip and discount package at this time. We wish you and your family a satisfying holiday!
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